The United States M3, often referred to as the “Grease Gun,” was either loved or hated by its user. In this article we will discuss in detail its design and experimental versions. Also will be told the story of a soldier who actually used an M3A1 in combat and still loves the old warhorse: crude but deadly.

Col. Rene Studler, Chief of R&D U.S. Army Ordnance, put together the design team of George Hyde and Frederick Sampson. Mr. Hyde was a noted arms design engineer and Mr. Sampson was an expert in the field of stamped materials and worked for the Guide Lamp Div. of General Motors. This was the perfect combination for the project. Utilizing readily available and noncritical materials they developed a new design. This design could be subcontracted out to small home machine shops all over the country for rapid manufacturing.

The first model was the T-15, which was to fire the 9mm cartridge. The first mistake they made was to utilize the Sten magazine: its only fault was it fed from a single feed double stacked magazine. The other problem was to make the ejection port size suitable for a 9mm cartridge only. They also included a selector to give semiautomatic fire. On the next model, T-20, they eliminated the selective fire capability and began to concentrate on the .45 ACP cartridge. One excellent design feature was the use of dual operating rods and springs. They could be adjusted so that the bolt never bottomed out. The heavy .45 ACP bolt was carefully engineered so that it never struck the back of the enclosed tubular stamped receiver. At this point there was only one description that stuck, “It looks like a grease gun.” Thus was born the nickname which still remains.

Someone corrected the ejection port and built in a simple but robust safety. Open the cover and it is ready to go and closed it is on safe. Incidentally, the cover cleverly moves the bolt back off of the sear. It is almost fool proof.

The wire stock, a tubular dual rod device was made even more practical by threading the ends of the rod to take a standard cleaning brush. The stamping for the receiver gave an ample pistol grip with pressed in serrations. The whole receiver is welded together with a sturdy threaded insert for the barrel with had a rugged collar. All in all, the M3 is a robust, reliable and compact submachine gun – all this for the measly sum of $20.94.

The M3 had two flaws that were corrected later. First, the cocking handle was complicated and prone to breakage. Second, disassembly was also complicated in that it had to have the trigger and cocking mechanism removed before the bolt assembly could be removed.

The M3A1 final design was adopted in December 1944, so that not many made it into combat. The improvements were simple. First, eliminate the cocking mechanism and lengthen the ejection port so that the bolt could be retracted by direct digital contact. Second, improve the bolt so that the ejector went through the bolt allowing the whole assembly to drop out in one piece by simply unscrewing the barrel assembly: pure and simple. Another modification was to the wire shoulder stock. They wisely included a magazine loader and bent the stock to allow it to be used as a wrench to loosen the barrel nut assembly.

Inland Division of General Motors produced a total of 646,000 M3 and M3A1s during WWII. Ithaca Gun Co. made 33,227 for the Korean War.

Variations and Experimental M3s

One attempt seldom mentioned, the T 29, submitted in the fall of 1944 was to chamber the SMG for the .30 Carbine cartridge. Though only three were made it was found that the 30 Carbine load was a bit much for the spring action. In addition to that there were already over 6 million carbines in service.

Bell Laboratories developed several suppressed variations of the M3. Bell Laboratories Report on Suppression of M3s from Silencers Patterns and Principles – Frankfort Arsenal Report R-1896 August 1968, reports: “By far the strangest was the “around the corner” gun, developed for use by Tankers. This gun would enable the Tankers to shoot the enemy who were trying to get in and under the tracks. The first combat use was by the Germans who used it against Russian sappers who tried to blow the treads of German tanks. It seemed they could not depress the MGs far enough to take out the Russians. By attaching them to their Stg 43s or MP 44s, they could literally fire on their own treads. The interesting fact is that the Germans went to the U.S. Patent Office to get the design for an “Around the Corner Gun.”

Present Day Use

Three wars and numerous conflicts have proven the old M3 to be a viable weapon. It can take enormous punishment and keep on running. It works in the hottest, coldest and dirtiest of environments. It even works underwater.

There are reports as late as the 1990s that M3s could be found racked up in tanks. After-action photos of the Iranian hostage crisis disaster showed suppressed M3s in the wreckage of the C-130.

The Battle Patrol: Combat Use of the M3

Most people remember the M3 as either an object of ridicule of a “funny old WW II gun” racked up in tanks. One of its greatest assets was its compactness and ability to be disassembled into a package for use behind enemy lines on clandestine operations.

Little is found on the actual use of the gun in combat though we have here an actual story of a man who used the M3A1 to effectively neutralize an enemy patrol and win the Silver Star; an award just below the Medal of Honor. Private First Class Frank C. Taraburelli, a native of Revere, Massachusetts, was only 20 years old at the time. A Ranger in the Second Battalion, his weapon of choice was an M3A1 Grease Gun. Though few were issued at the end of the War, the Rangers got the first ones off the assembly line.

In March, 1945, Frank had volunteered for a special combat patrol to feel out the defenses on the Siegfried Line. His actions of wiping out a German machine gun nest with fire from his M3A1 and the use of a hand grenade won him the coveted Silver Star. His memory, even today, is sharp and clear. He vividly remembers how he took out four German’s with a five-round burst from his trusty M3A1. His most cherished souvenir is a fireman’s axe that he took from a German he had recently dispatched. As proof we have seen an actual photograph taken shortly after the action. This photograph shows the ingenuity in the modification of his weapon. Rather than the “movie commandos,” he had chosen not to tape three heavy magazines together. Instead, Frank had chosen a V shaped stick to attach two magazines with bullets up. This puts less wear and tear on the weak magazine catch and it is quicker to insert the new magazine.

A special patch was created and authorized for the use of the men who served in these Special Combat Patrols. It consisted of a “bloody battle axe,” similar to the one captured by PFC Taraburelli. On 9 June, 1945, eleven men were awarded special permission to display this commemorative patch on their uniforms.

9mm Conversion Unit

Since the original prototype was in 9mm, it should be noted that the Ordnance Dept. had intended that the SMG be used by the OSS and resistance groups behind enemy lines. Though the final design was in .45 ACP, there was a small but unsuccessful effort to creating a 9mm conversion unit for the versatile M3. There is no evidence that the OSS ever got any 9mms.

We have an original 9mm bolt, in the original box; Part Number C-153427. Also marked clearly on the bolt is RIA for Rock Island Arsenal. For some reason, not many were made as it is not uncommon for them to be found in issued boxes. Very few completed units are ever seen. Unfortunately, the 9mm magazine well adaptor for the M3 or M3A1 is even rarer. Its part number, C-153430, fits both, but try and find one.

In the 1980s, a retired engineer by the name of Roger Ladd set out to construct a complete 9mm conversion for the M3 and was soon frustrated by the lack of conversion units for the magazine well. He painstakingly measured the dimensions of the M3 .45 magazine and the 9mm Sten gun. He then fabricated an adaptor that would be attached to the Sten magazine. He took a Sten barrel and adapted it to an M3 barrel nut and combined with his new-in-box bolt and built and fired his conversion unit.

The M3 admirably fulfilled its mission goals. It was cheap to manufacture with a minimum of critical materials. It was rugged, reliable and easy to maintain. The latter version, the M3A1 had all the tools that were needed built into the weapon. The stock had a built in magazine loader and was so configured that it could be used as a wrench to loosen the barrel nut. An oiler was built into the pistol grip. The complete gun could be broken down into a thirteen inch package for clandestine operations. The gun was extremely versatile in that it could be suppressed and it could be made to shoot around corners. Pretty she wasn’t but was reliable and would always do the job.

Czechoslovakia was born in 1918 from the dislocation from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Between the two world wars, the country developed a military industry which was one of the most important manufacturers of light weapons. Its production was mainly centered on semiautomatic pistols and Mauser rifles which have, with those of F.N., flooded the world from 1924 to 1938.

It is necessary to also note the creation of several semiautomatic rifles: ZH 29, VZ 38, ZK 381 and ZK 391, manufactured in small quantities for special troops or for testing by many foreign armed forces. The largest success of the Czechs probably resulted from the adoption of the ZB 30 light machine gun by the British Army, which then produced it under license under the name of Bren.

The occupation of the country by the troops of the Third Reich silenced the creativity of the local engineers. Very quickly the industry had to adapt to the needs of Germany and they produced large quantities of K 98 k rifles and MG 34 light machine guns as well as a multitude of parts for others weapons (P 38 pistol, guns for aircraft, etc…)

After the war, research shows that they continued to manufacture the same weapons as before. They were intended for the new Czech army and export (Israel and Pakistan). Parallel to this official manufacture, they continued to produce the same models with German marks… in order to make them pass for authentic surplus of war. Several boats transporting such “new surplus” were intercepted by the French Navy off the Algerian coasts between 1954 and 1960.

The first semiautomatic rifles of the new generation, such as the ZK 420, ZK 425, ZK 472, ZK 481, CZ 493 and CZ 502 appear in Czechoslovakia in 1946 firing conventional ammunition. They were presented without great success in many countries. At the same time, intermediate 7.5×55 and 7.5×45 ammunition is developed.

In 1948 the country is placed under a Communist regime and the military material must be aligned to that of the troops of the Warsaw Pact; though they were successful in keeping an independence in this area for a few years.

First, they introduced in 1949 two 9mm Parabellum submachine guns: VZ 23 and VZ 25. These weapons were modified in 1952 for the use of 7.62mm Tokarev ammunition and became the VZ 24 and VZ 26.

In 1952, new materials were introduced in the Czech Army: a pistol, a semiautomatic rifle and a light machine gun. If the pistol aligned its ammunition with that of the Soviet big brother, it is not the same for the two other models. One cartridge created for them was 7.62x45mm. It is an intermediate cartridge that combines the characteristics of the experimental ammunition 7.5x45mm (ball, length of case) and that of the Soviet cartridge (diameter of the body of case).

Things remained in this state of affairs until 1957. After this date, the Czechs were forced by the Soviets to align themselves with the other troops of the Warsaw Pact. They succeeded in keeping their specific armament, but adopted the 7.62x39mm. Rifles and machine guns were consequently modified and are indicated under year VZ 52/57. These rifles had little time in service because the following year it was replaced by an assault rifle of national design designated the VZ 58.

Description

The VZ 52 was manufactured by Ceska Zbrojovka Narodni Podnik in Strakonice, located 100 km in the south-west of Praha. Its design resulted from the combination of several systems:

• the rear end of the bolt tilts downward when locked in firing position, as the Swedish AG 42,
• gas port like the Mkb 42 (W), by sleeve in the middle of the gun, a rod moves back on a short distance and unlocks the bolt,
• trigger guard like the Garand M 1.

The stock is made of tinted whitewood. On the left side of the stock rather close to the handle is a notch with a lug intended for the attaching of a sling. The butt plate is made of stamped sheet metal. The handguard is composed of two elements: a front part made of sheet metal with longitudinal grooves and a rear part made of wood.

The receiver is made of milled steel and receives the bolt and a top cover. The barrel is screwed on at the front part of the receiver and is bored 7.62mm, with four right groves; one turn in 520 mm. At the middle of the barrel several gas ports permits the gases to move a sleeve that slides around the barrel and pushes a semi-circular rod that unlocks the bolt. The barrel ends in a small tapped end with a knurled thread protector. Once removed, this end is used to attach a blank firing device.

The bolt is made of a carrier with the cocking lever at the right. The recoil spring is long and uses a guide rod. A sheet metal cover cap is placed at the rear part of the receiver.

The trigger mechanism is similar to that of M1 Garand consisting of a dismountable block with articulated trigger guard, internal hammer and axial safety with longitudinal displacement. Pushed backwards it prohibits firing.

The weapon uses a ten-round box magazine introduced into the receiver from the bottom. One can refill the magazine while still in the weapon by means of two five cartridges clips. After shooting the last shot, the bolt is retained opened in the rear position.

The rear sight is a conventional ladder sight graduated up to 1,000 meters. The front sight is protected by a hood. A collapsible bayonet is installed permanently at the end of rifle. The double edged blade measures 27 cm (10.6 inches) and folds back in the horizontal plane on the right face of the barrel. All the metal parts of the weapon receive a black Parkerized finish.

Disassembly/Reassembly

Remove the magazine and visually check the chamber to clear the weapon. Close the bolt and push the safety on. Push forward the bolt cover and remove it (be careful about the recoil spring). Remove the recoil spring and rod. Move the bolt rearward until it is on its dismounting notch, turn it to down and remove. Take off the mobile head. Push down the trigger guard and push it forward to remove. Push the two side locks of the hand guard and remove. Take off the rear locking screw and unscrew the main screw that retains the frame on the stock. Push the sleeve which retains the barrel on the bayonet rest (use a plastic mallet). Take off barrel and frame and remove the rod. Reassembly is carried out in the reverse order.

Accessories

• Plug for blank firing.
• Cleaning kit placed in the stock, the butt plate can be dismounted by pushing its lock. It contains a three-part rod, a barrel brush, an oil can and a rag for protection for the bolt.
• Sling.

VZ 52/57

Five years later, the VZ 52 was replaced by the VZ 52/57 chambered for the Soviet cartridge 7.62×39. This gun is identical in all respects to its predecessor except the magazine is smaller.

Some original VZ 52s were given to “brother countries,” particularly Cuba and Viet-Nam. These rifles could be found a few years later in various countries of the world in the hands of communist organisations in Angola, Nicaragua and in other countries in Africa, Asia or Latin America…

The VZ 52/57 could be built new or result from a modification of the original rifle. In this case, traces of welding can be seen under the lower face of the frame.

These rifles were quickly replaced in their country of origin by a locally developed assault rifle: the VZ 58. Only a few were kept for honour guard. The presidential guard uses a rifle VZ 52/57 with brown plastic stock, all the metal parts are chrome plated and the bayonet is longer: 33.5 cm (13.2 inches) instead of 27 cm (10.6 inches).

(The following book reviews represent the opinions of the author, and are intended as honest evaluations based on many years of reading and collecting firearm books.)

How carefully do you shop for a machine gun? Hopefully, considerable thought is given to such a major purchase. What about a machine gun book? Literally thousands of firearm books, old and new, are available in the marketplace. Some are good, while many are mediocre. Any serious machine gun enthusiast, or general firearms aficionado quickly learns the value of pertinent firearm information at their fingertips. It’s frustrating not to have the information you need, when you want it. Therefore, a personally tailored firearm book library is an invaluable and necessary tool to the collector and shooter. A good library represents a significant capital investment over time, and appropriate consideration of each book purchase is recommended. Quality gun books typically cost between $40 and $100 each, much higher than the market price for bestsellers, novels, and ordinary bookshop offerings. Making the right gun book choices is prudent for the pocketbook, and adds to the overall enjoyment of the hobby. Specific historical and collector information about a firearm adds to the mystique and satisfaction derived from the hobby. Technical information may help to prevent or solve problems, and potentially return many times the cost of the book in avoided mistakes. So, how do I pick the right books? Where should I start? This article will point you in the right direction.

Begin with the basics. A few key firearm books exist that every enthusiast should own. Small Arms of the World, a series of books born in 1943 as A Basic Manual of Military Small Arms, is a must. Although the last update (12th Edition) dates back to 1983, it covers almost all commonly encountered machine guns, submachine guns, military rifles, and pistols with basic technical information and history, organized by country of use. This author’s personal collection includes all 12 editions of the series. If only a single edition is desired, then the 12th Edition is recommended. A good library will probably have 3 different editions with the 1st, 9th, and 12th Editions presenting the greatest coverage. Another similar publication is Military Small Arms of the Twentieth Century, a series that began in 1972. Other books, such as the many assembly and disassembly books by Gun Digest and the NRA are staples of a good firearms library, and can be tailored to individual interests.

If NFA items are your main interest, several titles are essential. Recommended titles such as The World’s Submachine Guns, followed by The World’s Machine Pistols and Submachine Guns, Vol. IIA, both by Thomas Nelson, will provide more information than most will probably ever need. Submachine Guns of the United States of America, by Frank Iannamico is also well recommended. Other, more specifically focused machine gun books are recommended in the list accompanying this article.

For the general firearms collector, a “must have” reference is Stuart C. Mowbray’s book titled 331+ Essential Tips and Tricks for the Gun Collector. From extremely detailed maintenance techniques, to identification of reproductions, to photographic techniques, the book boasts information pertinent to all firearms enthusiasts. Regardless their level of firearm experience, everyone can learn something from this book. A recent edition of The Blue Book of Gun Values is a staple of any collection, which not only aids in values, but provides examples of condition grading, and can be helpful with serial number ranges and dates of manufacture. Another publication that provides a good “second opinion” on values, and provides a greater focus on NFA firearms is the Standard Catalog of Military Firearms, by Ned Schwing, published by Gun Digest Books.

With the advent of on-demand publishing, niche firearm books have become financially reasonable to self-publish in smaller numbers. An example of such a niche book is Robert Best’s A Study of Colt’s New Army and Navy Pattern Double Action Revolvers, 1889 to 1908, published by InstantPublisher.com. It provides excellent collector information that might not be available in printed form without the new publishing technology. Also, digital “e-books” have entered the market at very reasonable prices, covering specific firearms. They can usually be downloaded for less than $10, and printed for personal use, or consulted online with a password.

So, how do I tell if it’s a good firearm book? This is a tough question for an online purchaser. Amazon has a reader review feature that offer s help in this respect, and inquiries may certainly be made in online forums. Gun magazines, such as this one, periodically publish reviews of new books, and can also be helpful. There are some gun book writers who have established reputations for consistent quality, such as Bruce Canfield, Dolf Goldsmith, Frank Iannamico, Stuart Mowbray, Thomas Nelson, Paul Scarlata, Blake Stevens, and Jan Still, and their books always represent wise purchases. Whenever possible, books should be evaluated at gun shows, or by the recommendation of trusted individuals who share your interest. If evaluating a book in person, one should look for the technical information you needed, and/or scope the level of detail presented about the history of the firearm of interest. Look for books that show accessories, and present the subject with authority. Usually, the lower quality, quickly written gun books will demonstrate signs of being a re-hash of old material, or just won’t appear authoritative at all.

One book deserving of special mention is a new book by Stuart Mowbray and Joe Puleo titled, Bolt Action Military Rifles of the World. This full-color book features beautiful photography, and provides an exceptional amount of very usable, specific collector information throughout, with inset photos of markings and other important collector tips, as well as historical information. The book not only features rifles of high collector quality, but shows examples of conditions more commonly encountered in the firearms marketplace. This book sets a new standard for layout and detail in a firearms book.

An example of a gun book that appears wonderful at first glance, but is truly a mediocre work is The Illustrated Directory of Guns, by David Miller. This large, 752-page book in full color features great color photography, and is apparently the result of gaining access to thousands of images from a prominent firearm auction house. It attempts to cover all guns – a noble effort – but it has so many gaps in coverage, and demonstrates simple mistakes that lead one to conclude that the author and editor lacked the level of expertise necessary to present the work with authority. Subsequently, this book can be found at bargain prices in today’s market, which is usually a telltale sign the book is inferior. Good firearm books retain a significant portion of their original value due to limited printing and consistent demand.

In the genre of machine gun books, several publishers stand out for their consistent attention to detail for collector and historical interests, with a technical focus and accuracy above most others. Collector Grade Publications, Mowbray Publishers, Stackpole Books, Wet Dog Publications, Schiffer Military Publications, and Moose Lake Publishing offer specialty titles that will not disappoint. One series that the advanced NFA enthusiast should obtain is the 5-volume series titled The Machine Gun, by Col. Chinn. The first 4 volumes were published by the Bureau of Ordnance of the U.S. Navy in the early 1950s, and the fifth volume was published by Col. Chinn in 1987. The level of analysis and expertise presented in these volumes is beyond compare. If you want to know the developmental history, operational principles, and serious technical information about machine guns and their inventors, you should obtain this series, which can cost up to $1,000 for a complete original set, though it has been reprinted on at least two occasions so be sure if the set you are buying is the original or the reprint.

Some out-of-print firearm books have risen in value to extraordinary prices, becoming collector items in their own right, and/or demonstrating the significant value of the information contained within. An example is Roger Cox’s The Thompson Submachine Gun, published in 1982 for $29.95, which now brings $350 and up, depending upon condition and author inscription. The original 1991 Clawson book on the M1911, Colt .45 Service Pistols sells for $600 and up, and Larry Johnson’s Japanese Bayonets fetches $300 for available copies. These books are still very hard to find, even at such high prices.

To aid in the selection of firearm books by type of firearm, with an emphasis on machine guns, the following list is compiled, representing the best books on each subject, based on personal experience. The list contains books by type of machine gun, as well as by other firearm manufacturers, firearm types, and accessories that are tailored to the taste of the Small Arms Review audience. Although good firearm books exist on Colt, Remington, and Winchester firearms, they are not represented in the list, due to their quantity, and the taste of this audience. Many of the books listed are out-of-print, and will require search efforts to purchase. To the author’s knowledge, such a firearm book recommendation list has never been presented before, and hopefully becomes well-received and useful.

Most well-read collectors of German small arms are aware that the Maschinenkarabiner 42(H) of the Haenel firm was the predecessor of the production German assault rifle for the 7.92x33mm intermediate cartridge. The MP42(H) weapon eventually led to development and subsequent adoption of the refined Sturmgewehr 44. The firm of C. G. Haenel, that was located at Suhl in Thuringia, had been one of the primary producers of German assault rifles during the Second Word War, but a lesser-known fact is that Haenel also made a simplified assault rifle near the end of the war. No official documents about the weapon have ever been found, but fortunately one example has survived the war, and was captured by the U.S. Army when they occupied the Haenel factory at Suhl on 3 April 1945. The weapon was originally sent to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for test and evaluation by the U.S. Ordnance Department. Today this rare weapon is located in the outstanding collection of Springfield Armory’s National Historic Site in Massachusetts.

During April of 1944, Hitler launched his Infantry Armament Program. This program was meant to ensure that a sufficient output of weapons, ammunition and equipment for the entire Wehrmacht would be available, in case restricted production capabilities of the industry were encountered. A special commission called the Sonderkommission Infanteriewaffen with representatives of all arms manufacturers and the Wehrmacht was established to oversee all current manufacturing programs as well as the development of new weapons and equipment. The chairman of the commission was Ott-Helmuth von Lossnitzer, the Technical Director of Mauser Oberndorf.

Soon after the commission began work in mid July 1944, their members began to reduce the number of existing armament programs. Only a handful of projects were considered important enough to be continued, freeing up the valuable time of the German skilled laborers. One of these so-called class 1 projects was the simplification of the MP44 weapon, a venture that had been in-process at Haenel since the start of series production of the MP43/1. Four other firms, Mauser, Gustloff, Steyr and Grossfuss, were listed as developing new MPs utilizing the Kurzpatrone 7.92x33mm cartridge. At the critical time period facing Germany it seemed strange to be developing a new weapon, but the intention was to generate new ideas for more radical simplifications, than the small steps that are possible on an existing model already in series production. The main goals were a reduction of material requirements, production time and a maximum use of parts made from stamped steel.

By August of 1944 the set requirements for new development projects were increased to a time and material reduction of at least 50% compared to the MP44. Interestingly enough, all projects could not comply with these conditions, but the commission only suspended a few of them. That came as no surprise, because von Lossnitzer at the head of the commission surely recommended the Mauser Gerät 06H weapon. The acceptance of a new weapon by the Waffenamt would have been a lucrative proposition for Mauser, so only Mauser and Grossfuss were allowed to continue with their work, whereas Gustloff’s project was cancelled. Additional requests from Haenel and Erma were again denied as new competition was undesirable. So Haenel went on with the simplification of their MP44 under Hugo Schmeisser’s direction.

This situation continued until mid December 1944, when after some protests Haenel finally got the allowance by the commission to develop their own simplified MP. The efforts resulted in an assault rifle that at first glance appears much like an Mkb42(H). Both weapons were gas-operated with a rigidly locked tilting bolt system, but that’s all of the commonalities.

The receiver of the new rifle was put together by two halves of box-like components made of stamped steel, one on top of the other. A hinge was located at the front end, so that the lower receiver could be folded down. This part of the receiver also contained the trigger mechanism and a fixed wooden buttstock. The bolt assembly could now easily be removed from the upper receiver. Due to this construction, it was much easier to field strip the weapon. There was no need to remove the buttstock as was required on the MP44 lessening the chance of losing the small connecting-pin. There was no separate grip-piece: the firing mechanism was hidden in the lower receiver, with only the trigger protruding outward. The push-through fire-control selector and the safety lever were the same identical parts as used on the MP44. The adjustable rear sight, less a separate sight-base, is now fixed directly on the receiver top.

The majority of the internal parts of the weapon were also made of stamped steel. The bolt carrier was one-piece with the hook-style handle. The flat cocking handle permitted a very small slot on the side of the weapon to prevent the ingestion of foreign matter. In the forward position, the bolt carrier covered the ejection port from the inside, eliminating the need for a separate flip-up dust cover. The simplified gas piston was mounted to the bolt carrier by a nut with locking or jam nut.

The conspicuous gas tube of the late war Haenel assault rifle was also a result of the simplification. The front sight sat on the top of the tube, so that no front sight base is needed as was used on the MP44. The gas block that connected the gas tube and barrel was similar to that of the MP44, but with a smooth surface, lacking the characteristic indentations on both sides. Unfortunately, the long tube prevented the use of the German standard rifle grenade cup launcher – a requirement on every German infantry rifle at that time, making it quite doubtful that the simplified Haenel assault rifle would have been accepted by the Waffenamt in its existing configuration.

The simplified assault rifle was easy to produce and would have conserved a lot of time and material. But it came too late in the war for even for a troop field trial, all that remains today is the single weapon in the collection of the U.S. Springfield Armory.

(The author wishes to thank James Roberts and Richard Colton. Springfield Armory National Historic Site / www.nps.gov/spar)

Robert Bruce’s two-part report on the U.S. Navy’s Riverine Forces concludes here with an in-depth look at the guns and gear of Riverine Security Teams. While the primary mission of these specialized Sailors is armed reconnaissance ashore, they are also essential augmentations to firepower on the boats.

Guns of the Riverine Security Teams

The twelve men of a Riverine Security Team (RST) are the detachment’s landing force, Sailors who go ashore primarily for reconnaissance but also a variety of other “muddy boots missions.” The team is often augmented by an Intelligence Specialist for information collection and a Hospital Corpsman for medical support.

New RSTs receive initial training in the same basic skill sets as boat crewmen, including Expeditionary Combat and Riverine Combat. This is followed by several weeks of specialized Security Team instruction before assignment to a detachment.

After coming aboard, their Advanced Unit Level Training is heavy on mastery of individual weapons including fast transition from carbine to pistol. They learn to effectively engage moving targets, provide supporting fire as a unit, fire and maneuver, and utilize signaling devices such as smoke grenades and pop flares.

Battle drills training consists of small unit maneuver tactics and patrolling formations, insertions and extractions both hot (under fire) and cold, as well as verbal and non-verbal communications with supporting watercraft. AMOUT (Advanced Movement in Urban Terrain) is also emphasized where RSTs learn techniques for patrolling in villages and towns, how to conduct two and four man room entries, and defensive strong pointing of buildings.

RSTs are well armed with a variety of standard U.S. military small arms that allow a fast and furious response to situations both likely and unexpected. As with Riverine boat crewmen, they carry both the 9mm Beretta M9 semiautomatic pistol and the 5.56mm Colt M4 series selective fire assault carbine.

These flattop M4s feature adjustable telescoping buttstocks and are topped with Aimpoint no-magnification red dot reflex sights or Trijicon ACOG 4 power day scopes. The carbine’s Rail Accessory System forearm carries the AN/PEQ-15 laser aiming device with its pressure switch usually taped on a detachable vertical foregrip. A visible beam tactical light is optional for selected missions.

There are six Riverines on each of the detachment’s two fire teams, consisting of a patrol leader, grenadier, machine gunner, and three riflemen. Grenadiers have single shot 40mm M203 grenade launchers clamped under their M4s and the machine gunner is formidably armed with the 7.62mm belt-fed FN MK 48. 12 gauge Mossberg M500 pump shotguns are carried when needed for door breaching and room clearing.

Depending on the specific mission, a team member who has undergone additional specialized training in long range precision shooting with the powerful 7.62mm M14 rifle may perform as a Designated Marksman. Additional duties for selected RSTs include Navigator, Communicator (radio operator) and JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) who skillfully directs the awesome firepower of attack aircraft or artillery.

RSTs also receive training on all of the boat-mounted crew served weapons so they will be able to effectively man the guns in the event a designated gunner is out of action. They become proficient in the use of Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (Zodiacs) for stealthy waterborne insertions and extractions. They provide impressive supplementary firepower to ground convoys as well as strengthening defense and security of the detachment’s landside base of operations. The Art and Science of Hot Extractions

A week after our first meeting we caught up with Det 1 at the U.S. Army’s Fort A. P. Hill, about 235 miles to the north of Lejeune and a conveniently short duration vehicle convoy just 75 miles northwest of the unit’s home base at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Virginia. Yorktown-based defense contractor ITA International was advancing the detachment’s training evolution at Lejeune with some intensive practical exercises for the Riverines in live fire from multiple boats maneuvering at White’s Lake Tactical Raft Training Site.

Lieutenant (JG) William Ashley, Detachment 1’s serious but personable OIC, explained that ever since coming out of Iraq in December 2008, his unit has been in the post-deployment/pre-deployment training cycle, gearing up for its next assignment.

Now, building on extensive static landside shooting of crew served weapons and small arms, as well as preparatory weapons training while underway, it was time to move up to waterborne ops with boats moving and shooting in confined space. White’s Lake multipurpose range, Ashley said, adequately supports some typical riverine fire and maneuver missions, in this case insertions and “hot extractions” of Riverine Security Teams.

“They’ll be inserting an RST, about six guys, into the woods,” Ashley explained. “They’ll be doing their maneuvers while the boats are shadowing them. The RST will take (simulated) contact, start firing and make their way back towards the lakeside/river. As they mark their flanks the boats will engage their contacts at the same time they’re moving in to extract the ground team. And as they ‘exfil’ (exfiltrate) the area, they’ll be engaging the targets. We’ll be doing that in several iterations with different crew swaps.”

Because each boat has two crews and the RST has two separate fire teams, there was plenty of time to observe preparations and conduct of this flexibly choreographed live fire training. We also had time to interview an RST member under the watchful eye of Lieutenant (JG) Jeremy Baer, Assistant OIC of Det 1, RIVRON THREE. Don’t Get Off The Boat?

John Paul “JP” Lubrani, Hull Technician 2 (EXW) is a native of Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA. He’s 31 years old with seven and a half years in the Navy, the last two in Detachment 1. He started as a boat crewman and then began working with the RST while on deployment to Iraq. JP said that he is one of the first to be dual qualified for both boat crew and RST, where he is the assistant JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) in training. His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Expeditionary Warfare pin.

SAR: You were originally a gunner on a Riverine boat and then volunteered for RST. Didn’t you see the movie Apocalypse Now and know not to get off the boat?

Lubrani: (laughs) ‘Chef – never get off the boat!’

SAR: You joined the Navy soon after the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01. Is this why you enlisted?

Lubrani: I had a daughter and I wanted to join for her. I didn’t want anyone else to fight my fight. It was up to me. I spent about five years in the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) community then asked for assignment to Riverine because it sounded like it was something above and beyond what I was currently doing. I wanted to see if I could push myself to those limitations.

SAR: Has this assignment lived up to your expectations?

Lubrani: Yes it has, 110 percent. It’s physically demanding, mentally demanding, very challenging all around. Every time you complete something they set a new standard, a new bar that you’ve got to try to achieve so we keep rising.

SAR: How are the living conditions in a Riverine unit? No snack bar, you don’t get movies on the boat at night or a lot of hot chow.

Lubrani: No we don’t. Not big fans of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) but we do eat ‘em quite a lot. We keep ourselves entertained. We have camaraderie and that goes a long way…. There’s a brotherhood in being a Riverine: we’re a very tight knit. There’s roughly about three hundred of us in the squadron, broken down into three dets (detachments), about sixty people per det and a command element. Within that det we’re very, very close. Most of us know each others families, we get together quite often for barbecues, hanging out, birthday parties for our children, so it’s very tight knit.

SAR: Are you personally interested in firearms and shooting?

Lubrani: Absolutely. But believe it or not coming from Los Angeles, I had never even held a weapon before I joined the military. It made me nervous at first when you’ve got to do your qualifications. But now, with the Riverines, I actually qualified as an Expert shooter with both the pistol and rifle so I think I’ve come a long way. I’m a lot more comfortable around guns than when I first began. They’re a necessity. It’s a hard life out there sometime the way the world’s changing and I definitely think they’re a necessity.

SAR: Any personal firearms?

Lubrani: A Springfield XD in .40 S&W caliber. I wanted something a little more than a nine mil. My wife’s in the Navy as well and she’s used to the Beretta (M9). When we went to the range I taught her how to use the Beretta very well but I wanted something just a little more powerful for home protection. The XD’s a gun she felt comfortable with. No other weapons. We’ve got four children so money’s kind of tight.

SAR: What formal schools and subsequent training have you received for your duties on the RST?

Lubrani: Our initial training was at Blackwater USA (security company in Moyoc, NC), a few weeks there that covered small arms, rifle, a little bit of CQB (Close Quarter Battle), and combat first aid. Then we deployed to Iraq. When we came back we went through another course at the Chesapeake Annex with land warfare and a little bit of land navigation, taught by ITA.

SAR: Do you believe you’ve had adequate training time?

Lubrani: Absolutely, we spend a good portion of the year just training, not only in an environment like this (AP Hill) but also self sustained training. We have qualified guys within our own detachment to run ranges and things like that and we’ve got plenty of ammunition.

SAR: How about computer simulators?

Lubrani: We’ve used those at Camp Lejeune. We all went through SOI (USMC School of Infantry) when the command was first established.

SAR: Night training with NVGs?

Lubrani: Absolutely, we spend a lot of time training with NVGs (PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Goggle) not only on the boats but on land as well. The more we practice with them it helps because your depth perception is so much different (shallow) when you’re wearing ‘em.

SAR: What recommendations would you like to make to the chain of command to improve skill with individual weapons and the ability to operate day and night?

Lubrani: The NVGs we have now I enjoy. I’ve heard a couple of guys say they’d like to use a two-tube NVG (like the AN/PVS-15) for better depth perception. I like the single (tube) one because you never know. Someone can shine a light on you and they have a safety thing that’ll kick off (automatically shut down) but at least you still have one eye to engage with. With a binocular NVG you’d have to take time to lift ‘em up to see or wait for them to readjust.

SAR: Comment on the individual weapons used by the RST.

Lubrani: The 9mm Beretta, I love it, hasn’t failed me once. Keep it clean and it never jams up on you. The M4, I love that rifle, it’s great. It held up very well in Iraq with all the dust. I didn’t have a problem with it. None of the parts ever loosened up on me or anything like that. It’s a really good rifle.

SAR: Most of the flattop M4s we’ve seen in your detachment have 4 power ACOG scopes mounted. Does anybody use a different scope or sight?

Lubrani: A couple of our RSTs have Aimpoints, a red dot sight. At first all of the RST guys got Aimpoints and all the boat guys got ACOGs. But now they’ve kinda switched up a little bit. Only because our Aimpoints don’t come with magnification. I know they sell one and I think that would be great. If it had both I think that’d be spot on. Or the one you mentioned (4 power ACOG with a piggyback DOCTER red dot) that sounds great. When we’re in Iraq there’s a lot of open space so you could use that magnification. But at the same time you never know when your convoy will break down in the middle of the town and you have to go in and search those buildings. You have to have both ‘cause you never know when you’re gonna need it.

SAR: When you were deployed was most of the RST work in going through villages?

Lubrani: Not really. We encountered a lot of tents, not too many buildings at all. We ground convoyed through towns but we didn’t stop to get out and search.

SAR: Would you make recommendations for any other gear like weapon-mounted night sights?

Lubrani: We’ve got the PEQ-15 (ATPIAL – Advanced Target Pointer Illuminator Aiming Light) and those are really good. We usually use them with the infrared laser pointer and we have our NVGs on and it hits, it picks up really good.

SAR: Any personal experience or stories you’ve heard about the effectiveness of M855 standard 5.56mm ball ammunition in stopping the target?

Lubrani: We’ve heard that there are times when they won’t. Maybe going to a heavier caliber for us would be better. I’ve personally never seen anyone shot with ‘556.’

SAR: Have you had the opportunity to use the 40mm M203 grenade launcher on an M4?

Lubrani: Yes, through training. It’s very well built, you can deploy it very quickly and these ITA instructors here have shown us a way that makes it even better. Usually we use leaf sights but they showed us a quicker way of engaging your target using reference points on the side of the rifle. Apparently comes from their experience in using it.

SAR: RSTs were previously using the MK43, a modified M60. We’re hearing some say they’re not happy with the new MK 48, that 7.62mm belt gun from FN. Comment?

Lubrani: I’ve had a lot of experience with the M240 and the 48 is almost the same as far as how it works and its cyclic rate. But the 48 for some reason was jamming. You wanna go out knowing you have something that’ll shoot. More than fifty or sixty rounds before its jams up on you. Being a small unit element we have two machine gunners and that’s it. So if one of those or both of those go down that’s a big gap in our firepower. We’ve heard rumors that it gets better after a certain amount of rounds. I don’t know if the parts open up and get looser and it’s more reliable. But as of right now; not good.

SAR: Tell us about the 12 gauge M500 Mossberg shotgun.

Lubrani: That’s probably gonna be our next home defense weapon (laughs) for my wife and I. On the team we haven’t had to employ it. Just in training. But among all the guys we love it. Put a slug in there and knock the hinges off a door real quick.

SAR: Do you have leeway in your gear? For example, the holster for your M9. Do you get to pick your own if you don’t like the Navy issue?

Lubrani: Yes, you see some guys with different types of holsters but for the most part we like to keep it all the same, like the SERPA (Blackhawk Industries), a great holster. If you notice most of our guys have Navy issue SERPAs with a one finger release. The only difference (points to LT Baer) would be like the LT is wearing his ‘drop leg’ and I’m wearing it hip platform. It just comes down to personal comfort.

SAR: Lieutenant, is that an issue rig?

Baer: I actually purchased this myself, a drop down with that extra gap below the body armor for a quicker draw.

SAR: How about variations in the types of magazine pouches and their positioning on the body armor?

Lubrani: At first it was a command thing, they wanted us to all be the same. But once we got into training it was realized that some things just don’t work for everybody. Everyone has a different way they grab their magazines, different places. And once you get into the training it all becomes muscle memory, you have to know where your things are. I’ve rigged mine five or six times in different positions just so I can get it to where it’s comfortable.

Baer: If you look at his mag pouches you can see how he’s got loops holding his mags and I have a different configuration. So it’s personal preference. The only thing these guys are held to is in our standard procedures we have first line, second line, third line gear. First line gear is the stuff you wear on you, like your emergency pack and holster. Second line is weapons and helmet, third line is what you’re gonna carry in your pack like GoreTex rain gear. As long as they have that gear in each of those lines they’re good to go.

SAR: Other tricks of the trade from real world experience on your individual weapons?

Lubrani: Most of our tricks of the trade have come through training. Just getting out here and practicing so much. Other things, I think the biggest one for me personally was learning how to shoot on your side. Sometimes you can’t always get the shot laying flat down in the prone position. Learning to manipulate your ACOG so your point’s still facing the same way. Same thing with your M9, holding the flashlight up when you’re coming into a room with your Beretta.

SAR: How about interaction with other RSTs? Do you get together to talk about what works and what doesn’t?

Lubrani: Absolutely, we’ll get with different dets and ask ‘em questions. Maybe see somebody with his gear rigged differently or his PEQ mounted on the side instead of on top. We bounce things off each other all the time.

SAR: We’ve seen different types of foregrips on the M4s. Some have the GripPod with little bipod legs that drop down. Also tactical lights and pressure switches for the M4. Are these regulation, available through the Navy supply system?

Lubrani: Usually our armory guys take care of all that stuff. They have a list of approved things we can use on there. The accessories we can vary up a little bit. Personal preference. A lot of guys go out and buy their own. From what I understand it’s the same pretty much in other units like the SEALs. As long as it fits the Navy’s requirement.

SAR: Your magazines don’t have pull loops.

Lubrani: Some of the guys do have ‘em, including MagPul. I’ve got short fingers and I don’t really like ‘em too much (laughs).

SAR: What happens when you’re in country and something breaks on the weapons?

Baer: It goes through the regular Navy maintenance system. We can get parts replacements and we have spare parts we can use to fix our weapons. If something goes down hard then they send it back to (NSWC) Crane and we’ll get a full replacement. We have spare weapons in the detachment.

SAR: What lessons did you learn about yourself and your boat mates in your last deployment?

Lubrani: It was pretty hot over there. The worst part is for the guys on the boats who have a different vest than we RSTs do. It’s a KDH (Tactical Maritime Body Armor System) and ours are Eagle Industries (Maritime Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System). From personal experience the KDH is so cumbersome. It feels like you’ve got twenty extra pounds on. This Eagle feels lighter even though the (ballistic) plates probably weigh about the same. I’m actually carrying more stuff than I was on the boat but it’s the maneuverability.

SAR: Why do they wear a different vest?

Baer: The boat guys have more chance of being hit with shrapnel and debris from the boat if it comes under attack. If you look at the KDH the boat guys have it’s gonna ride up higher under the arms and actually drops down lower. It has more flak protection built into the jacket of the vest itself and that’s why it’s heavier. The shoulder straps are wider and has protection that goes up into the shoulder areas. The Eagle has a little less flak protection.

SAR: How about the actual ballistic plates?

Baer: They are the same, 7.62mm ESAPI (Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert).

SAR: You’d sink like a rock in these heavy things if you went over the side. What keeps you floating?

Baer: This ‘horse collar’ automatically inflates and it will keep your head above the water. Sometimes they go off when you’re just getting wet in training…

Lubrani: The vests come with a quick release that you pull and it drops the ballistic plates.

Baer: A configuration we’re expecting in the future is where, instead of having the ‘horse collar,’ we’ll have foam floatation inserts that go into the vest itself and ride between the plates and your body.

SAR: What advice do you have for RSTs preparing for their first deployment?

Lubrani: It can be something as simple as what to pack and what to expect out there. Morale is the most important thing. When they leave for deployment they should make sure everything at home is organized because nothing will bring you down worse than that.

SAR: What would you like to say to young men considering joining the Navy about why they should choose Riverine?

Lubrani: We’re a very unique unit. SWCC (Special Warfare Combatant Craft) says they’re the Riverines – I beg to differ – we carry that name now. I think because of the veterans from Vietnam we have a big name to live up to and so far we’ve very much done so. We’ve got big shoes to fill. It’s a hard life, you’re constantly training but you’re getting paid to come out here and shoot guns all day. What more can you ask for? Shoot guns, PT (physical training), a big camping trip with live fire and boats. It’s great and there’s nothing else like it. ‘Big Navy’ doesn’t have that. We were out here yesterday training, soaking wet and cold in the Zodiacs, and I turned around and said to the ITA instructor, ‘we’re actually getting paid to do this…’

SAR: What would you like to add to any of this?

Lubrani: It wouldn’t be such a great experience without the people around you. The team, the entire det that makes it so good, the camaraderie. My own experience would be as a high school athlete and the kind of solidarity you have with your teammates. That’s exactly what it’s like here and I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t like that.

SAR: Lieutenant, did you ask for Riverine?

Baer: I did and it has lived up to my expectations. I joined the unit in November 08 when the first group of the detachment returned from Iraq. I took the Riverine Unit Level Leader’s Course at Lejeune’s SMTC (Special Missions Training Center) for good baseline knowledge. This unit is a good place to be and I enjoy it. It’s a lot of time away from home but it makes it worthwhile when you get to go out here and do the things we do.

SAR: Still no word on where and when for the next deployment?

Baer: Yeah, we’re standing by. We keep appraised and abreast of what’s going on in Iraq with our other squadrons because we need to know if we are going to relieve them in the same place and where we’ll take up from where they left off.

SAR: Your boats are painted green. Will you leave these behind if you go back to Iraq?

Baer: Yes, the other squadron in Iraq will turn theirs over if or when we relieve them. They get a regular supply chain of new equipment and parts, maintenance on the boats themselves.

SAR: Will you leave your weapons behind?

Baer: No, the weapons come with us, but the boats, trucks and trailers we’re using now will stay. RIVGRU ONE keeps them in rotation for stateside training.

(Editor’s Note: Since these interviews were conducted, RIVRON 3 has learned where their next deployment will be. SAR sends our wishes to them for fair winds and following seas.)

Find out more: Navy Expeditionary Combat Command — www.necc.navy.mil

Identifying all magazines, for all AK variants, would be of such a large magnitude that it would be completely impractical to attempt. As such, this effort is limited to 7.62x39mm magazines with a capacity of 30 rounds or less, and which don’t need to be modified to work in a standard AK-47. Even with this seemingly narrow scope the project proved dauntingly large, and continued to grow as new variations showed up.

Soviet Union

When the Soviet Union started production of the AK-47 in late 1948 at the Izhevsk Machine Plant, also known as Izhmash, it came with a 30-round magazine that has come to be called the “Russian Slab-Side.” It gets its name from its smooth stamped sides and was produced only by the Izhmash factory. They are relatively rare as the design was replaced before AK production was started at another factory.

The Russian Slab-Side magazines are generally covered in inspector stamps, but the Izhmash factory mark (feathered arrow in triangle) will be found stamped low on the back of the mag’s body. Made from thick 1 mm steel, it is without doubt extremely durable, but heavy. They originally had a blued finish, but many appear to have been later refinished with a black enamel coating.

About the time that the Type III AK-47 was adopted in 1954, a new lighter 30-round steel magazine was introduced. Stamped from thinner steel (.75 mm) this design featured ribs in the body for added strength. The body, as with the earlier Slab-Side version, was formed from two stamped metal halves that are spot welded together along the front and along the rear flanges (referred to as the mag spine). The body features three outward and one inward facing longitudinal ribs, as well as five outward facing horizontal ribs along the bottom of the magazine. Three of these horizontal ribs are noticeably short, and basically just wrap around the bottom rear of the mag. The first ribbed mags had the inward facing rib at the rear of the mag’s body going strait up and under the plates that reinforce the feed lips. This type of mag was produced by many other countries, and I will refer to it in the future as the “First European Ribbed Type.”

The earliest Soviet ribbed mag, the “Izhmash Back-Stamped Ribbed Mag”, has the Ishmash factory mark stamped on the bottom-back of the mag like the Russian Slab-Side mag. At first, these mags were blued, but this was eventually changed to a baked-on black enamel finish. Izhmash reportedly switched to a baked-on enamel finish on its AKs shortly before production of the AKM model began in 1959. The followers on these early Izhmash ribbed mags will have a large pill shaped bulge with a hole through its front left side. This bulge does not extend to the rear of the follower.

Eventually, the Izhmash factory mark was moved to the spine, and this version is generally referred to as the “Early Izhmash Spine-Stamped Mag.” This was followed by a new follower with a longer thinner bulge on it that extends to the back of the follower. The hole through the front left side of the earlier follower’s bulge was also eliminated. The hole’s purpose seems to have been the prevention of a stuck follower from suction in a heavily greased mag, but this had apparently been deemed unnecessary.

At some point the dies used by Izhmash to stamp mag bodies were redesigned. The inward facing rib at the back of the mag now stopped short of the lip reinforcement plates, and turned at a 90 degree angle toward the rear of the mag. This rib resembles an upside down and backward “L”. This type of mag body was also made by many other countries, and I will refer to it in the future as the “Second European Ribbed Type”.

As would be expected; these mags will be found with the Izhmash mark stamped on the spine, and with a baked-on black enamel finish. Collectors generally refer to them as a “Late Izhmash Spine Stamped Mag.”

In 1960, the Soviet’s Tula arsenal started production of the AKM. All Tula rifles, and steel mags, were finished with a baked-on black enamel finish. These mags are of the Second European Ribbed Type, and will usually have a fair number of inspector stamps on both the spine and its lower sides. Tula’s factory mark is a five pointed star that, when found, is always on the spine. Tula steel mags are relatively rare as they were only made for a few years before production was switched to the new AG4 plastic type.

The last steel mag produced by the Soviets is referred to by collectors as the “Izhmash Side-Stamped.” It is basically a Late Izhmash Spine Stamped mag with one very noticeable difference. On the mags left side, the middle outward facing vertical rib stops well before the other two, leaving a blank area at the bottom of the mag where the Izhmash factory mark is prominently stamped. These mags carry a black enamel finish, and as the name implies, were only made by Izhmash.

During the mid to late 1950s the Soviets also produced an aluminum 30-round magazine for the AK generally referred to as the “Aluminum Waffle” by collectors because of its very distinctive ribbed pattern. This mag is made entirely of aluminum, except for its spring, and carries a black enamel finish. They will be found with multiple inspector stamps on both the spine and lower sides. Made by Izhmash, most will show its factory mark on their spine. They were probably discontinued in favor of the steel mag’s greater strength. Soldiers have been known to use their mags as hammers, and even bottle openers.

During the early 1960s, the Soviets introduced a new 30-round AK mag made from a glass-fiber reinforced plastic called AG4. This mag was molded in two halves that were then joined with an epoxy adhesive with steel front and rear lugs being molded into the mag’s body. The follower, keeper/takedown plate, and floorplate also remained steel. These “Russian AG4 Plastic Mags” were made by both Tula and Izhmash. The respective arsenal’s mark being molded into the bottom right side of the mag while the mold number is on the bottom left side. Inspector marks were stamped onto the body of the mag with permanent ink. It is interesting to note that these mags never fully replaced the steel mags in Russian service. Reportedly, this was due in no small part to soldiers fears that, if they were injured, shards of a plastic mag would not show up in an x-ray.

Between the two manufacturers; a large number of variations of the Russian AG4 plastic mag exist. Very early mags had a mold line that gave the impression of long top, and were brown in color. The color was quickly changed to a much more common reddish-orange and this was then followed by a mold re-design that moved the mold line higher up on the body. Mags will also be found with, and without, a noticeable ridge running down the back of the mag, and at least four types of floorplates are known to exist. Izhmash also had at least two sizes of its factory mark molded into the body.

During the 1980s, the Soviets experimented with a plum colored polymer AK-47 mag at a time when they were manufacturing a similar mag for use in their 5.45x39mm AK-74 rifles. Like the AK-74 mag, steel lugs were molded into the body and it used a steel floorplate. Criss-crossing ribs, however, were molded into the body for added strength, and possibly for quick identification as to its caliber. These “Russian Plum Waffle Mags” unfortunately lack any markings to indicate the arsenal that made them. Only a handful of these 30-round mags have made their way into the U.S., and it is probably the most sought after AK-47/AKM mag.

At the present time, the Russian Izhmash factory is making a 7.62x39mm black polymer 30-round mag for export sales with its AK103/AK104 rifles. None of these have ever been directly imported into the US, but some have reportedly made their way here through a third country. The mag made for Izhmash’s Siaga version of the AK are often modified to work in a regular AK, and incorrectly represented as one of these.

Bulgaria

In 1958, the Bulgarians began producing the AK-47 at their Factory 10 under Russian license. The earliest Bulgarian steel mags were of the First European Ribbed Type, and are seen stamped with either a “10” or an “E” in a double circle on the spine. The “E” in double circle may have come about in 1964 when the Bulgarian Factory 10 was temporarily re-named as the United Industrial Plant “Friederich Engels,” but more likely represent a different factory. All of these mags appear to have a blued finish, and have the large pill shaped bulge, with hole, on their followers. The follower’s bulge is similar to the earliest Russian ribbed mags, but is not rounded as much.

The next Bulgarian steel mags were of the Second European Ribbed Type. These will be found with both the earlier follower and a new follower featuring an elongated bulge without a hole in it. All the marked ones so far observed carried the “E” in double circle stamp on the spine. They all appear to have a phosphate finish.

The third Bulgarian steel pattern is a unique type. The inward facing rib on the rear top-left side of the mag expands backwards in a slanted concave shape to the feed lip reinforcement plate. On the right side it expands backwards in a slanted convex shape. Early mags appear to have a phosphate finish while the later/majority have a black enamel finish. Most of these “Late Bulgarian Steel Mags” are unmarked, but a few have shown up stamped with either an “E” in double circle or “25” in double circle stamping on the rear spine. The “25” in double circle represents Optico Electron Inc., a well known Bulgarian manufacturer of polymer AK-74 mags. (Author’s note: In the future I will refer only to the number of outward facing ribs on a steel mag. The inward facing rib at the rear will be considered a “given” and covered by its type description.)

Around 2000, a series of experimental 30-round polymer Waffle mags were imported by Magua Industries from Bulgaria. Imported in only small quantities; they were advertised colored either arctic white, blue, clear, gray, hunter green, olive green, plum, or yellow. However; only the arctic white, clear, hunter green, and olive green colored mags appear to have made it here in any quantity. They will carry the “10” in double circle factory mark molded into the left side. These mags were strengthened by having a thin sheet of steel, as well as steel front and rear lugs, embedded within the polymer body. The follower and keeper/takedown plate were made of polymer, but the floorplate remained a steel stamping. The clear polymer mags, for obvious reasons, had the steel sheets left out of the body, and have suffered badly from cracking at the lips due to this fact and the type of polymer used.

A few years later large quantities of these 30-round polymer waffle mags, now black in color, started to be imported into the US. Interestingly, they will sometimes be found with, and without, a mold number on the right side. These mags were designed for military sales, and have shown up in Iraq in large quantities with the new Bulgarian AKs supplied to the post Saddam army.

The 1994 Import Ban of so-called “assault rifles” led to the more politically correct thumbhole stocked AKs without bayonet lugs. The Bulgarians produced the SA93 and SLR95 “sporting” rifles, and exported them with newly developed 5 and 10-round shortened versions of the black Bulgarian Waffle. The bodies of these magazines are the same regardless of whether it has a 5 or 10 round capacity, but capacity is increased to 10 rounds by the use of a shortened follower and keeper. No factory markings will be found molded into these mags. The follower is marked with a “5” or “10” in silver paint to indicate its respective capacity.

KVAR Corp. has recently had the Bulgarian arsenal produce waffle mags for them in special colors to match the US made polymer stocks it sells. OD green mags have been made in 5, 10, 30, and 40-rounds capacities. Plum mags have been made in 30 and 40-rounds capacities.

In early 2007 another type of polymer 30-round mag was imported that is usually referred to as the “Bulgarian Bullet Mag.” The name comes from the rough image of seven 7.62x39mm cartridges molded into each side. The mag also has “Cal. 7.62×39” molded into the bottom of the left side, as well as three small stars molded into the bottom right side. The manufacturer, ISD Bulgaria, Ltd., placed no arsenal marking on these mags to indicate that they made them. The polymer body is reinforced with thin sheets of steel, and the floorplate remains a steel stamping. The follower and keeper are made from polymer but, more importantly, so are the front and rear lugs. Unfortunately, the rocking motion used to insert an AK mag in a rifle will eventually wear out plastic lugs, and one should expect only a fraction of the lifespan of a military steel mag.

One feature of these mags that has caused some consternation with first time users is its so-called self cleaning feature. As the follower rises up it forces the feed lips slightly further apart, and supposedly crud up and out. The increased width of such an empty mag sometimes prevents its insertion into a rifle; particularly those with US made receivers, but problems have been encountered when inserting empty mags into factory built AKs. Inserting three rounds in a mag allows insertion in any AK.

The “bullet” images molded into the mag’s body have never been much of a hit with the shooting community. In late 2007, the Bulgarian factory redesigned the molds to remove the bullet images and replaced the three stars on the bottom right side with an unknown symbol believed to represent the factory. The “CAL. 7.62X39” marking on the bottom left side was also made a little more prominent. Otherwise, the mag remained the same and this new version is generally referred to as the “Bulgarian Slab-Side.” In July 2008, a clear polymer version of this mag was introduced to the US market. The “Bulgarian Clear Slab-Side” lacks the steel reinforcement sheets in its body for obvious reasons.

In mid-2008, the unique Late Bulgarian Steel Mag started showing up in the U.S. with the same black polymer follower and keeper used in the Bulgarian Bullet and Slab-Side mags. It would seem that ISD Bulgaria is manufacturing these new hybrid mags in order to keep the price competitive with military surplus. These mags are finished with a baked-on black enamel finish, show excellent workmanship, and work very well.

East Germany

East Germany received a license from the Soviet Union in 1957 to produce the AK-47, but production didn’t start until 1959. East German 30-round mags are all of the First European Ribbed Type, and are generally known for the excellent quality of their salt blued finish. The follower is of a unique pattern having a bulge that is flattened at its rear, but rounded at the front. Early East German Blued Mags will almost always be found with two to six large thin block style letters stamped on the spine. There is no apparent pattern to the letters stamped on the spines and these are believed to be just inspector stamps. A single small number in an oval, such as “15”, “16”, and “29”, is also sometimes found stamped on the spine.

Much rarer, and largely unknown, is the Late East German 30-round mag. The body and follower remain identical to those of an early East German mag, but have a black phosphate finish. The thing that really makes this mag stand out is its unique floorplate. The floorplate’s normal oval shaped stamping, at its front end, has its rear edge flattened into a slanting straight line. The few of these mags that I have examined were unmarked.

Egypt

Egypt received a license to produce the AKM in 1971 and began production shortly afterwards initially using imported Russian parts. Egyptian 30-round mags, surprisingly, are of the First European Ribbed Type. Early commercial mags imported to the US were stamped “Made in Egypt” near the top of the mag on the left side. The glossy black enamel finish applied to the mag’s body and floorplate is often atrocious, showing obvious paint dripping. The follower, however, retained a blued finish. What really makes this mag stand out from other First European Ribbed Types is their welding patterns. The rear catch has unusual tear-dropped shaped spot welds, while the front lug and front edge of the mag’s body has round spot welds. The welding along the spine is neither round nor oval, and while sometimes indistinct, is best described as a blob.

Later both 30 and 5-round Egyptian mags were imported with a matte black enamel finish on the mag’s body, and with blued followers and floorplates. The follower pattern was slightly different on these mags, and the front lug was enlarged. The welding pattern, however, remained nearly identical. No factory markings have ever been identified on an Egyptian mag.

Finland

Large scale production of Finland’s version of the AK-47, the M62, began at both the Valmet and Sako factories in 1965. The Finnish produced 30-round steel mags are of the First European Ribbed Type, and have a blued finish. While at first glance they may look similar to any number of mags, they have several unique features that make them easy to pick out. First is a folding rectangular steel ring welded to the floorplate. This ring’s purpose has been variously described as a means of securing the mag to the soldier’s web gear or for attaching a lanyard ring; but a Finnish veteran informed me that it is simply to give a soldier something to grab onto when removing it from a magazine pouch. Secondly, they have both a 10-round and a 30-round witness hole in the back. All other European 30-round ribbed mags have just a 30-round witness hole. An examination of the right side of the rear lug will most often show a “T” proof mark, which reportedly comes from the Finnish word “Taisteluväline” or War Material. Much less common are commercial mags marked with an “S” instead – believed to represent either Sako or Sporter.

A unique 15-round steel mag was developed for export sale with the semi-auto 7.62X39mm Valmet M76 rifles. The mag’s body will show only three horizontal ribs on it. The floorplate ring was also left off these mags. The rear of the floorplate is thus left distinctively flat while other European ribbed mags have a round shaped stamping there.

During the early 1990s the Finnish began developing a polymer AK mag for its military. These mags bear a strong resemblance to the Bulgarian Waffle mags in that they have crisscrossing horizontal and vertical ribs on their sides. Likewise; steel front and rear lugs were molded into the body along with thin sheets of metal to strengthen the feed lips. Unlike the Bulgarian Waffle mag, the Finnish Waffle design uses a polymer floorplate.

Finnish Trial Waffle Mags were dark green in color. Shortly after trial production began a polymer loop was molded into the bottom front of the mag and the floorplate was strengthened. When finally adopted, the color was changed to black, and a date code was molded into one side. The few Finnish Black Waffle Mags I have seen were made during the 1994-97 time period. A few of these black mags, made for commercial sale in Europe, were laser engraved “SAKO” on the bottom right side.

Hungary

Hungarian 30-round mags are all of the First European Ribbed Type. Early mags had a blued finish and will often be found with an “02” and a smiley-faced quarter-moon stamping on the spine. These early mags have a very distinctive bulge in the follower that is flattened at both ends. These early follower bulges also have a noticeable large hole in the front left side. The takedown plate’s button also stands out as it is clearly flattened when viewed through the hole in the floorplate. At some point the finish on all the mag’s components was changed to black enamel.

Few changes will be noted in the Hungarian 30-round mag during its long production span. The first design change was apparently to a follower with a more traditionally oval bulge shape. This was followed by a small “M” in circle inspector stamp on the spine, and a new floorplate with a thinner oval shaped stamping at its front. Large quantities of these late mags will also be found with takedown plates having only a gray phosphate finish, and even with no finish.

Only a few of the late Hungarian AK mags present a challenge to identify. These mags were generally made for commercial sale in the U.S. and are unmarked. An easy way to identify these mags, as well as any Hungarian mag, is to disassemble the mag and look at its keeper. Hungarian AK mag keepers are unique among the European and Egyptian steel mags in that it lacks a spring guide protruding from it.

In 1965, the Hungarians adopted a compact version of the AK called the AMD-65. It was designed for specialized troops and so that a soldier could easily exit an armored vehicles using it. A 20-round AK mag was developed for use with the AMD-65 and featured three vertical ribs and no horizontal ribs on its side. All of the mags that I have seen were finished in a black enamel finish. Changes in markings, follower shape, takedown plate finish, and floorplate stamping followed the 30-round mag.

The Hungarian FEG plant produced a superb 5-round mag with a dedicated body die for its post ban SA 85M rifles. These mags clearly show superior welding and a near flawless flat black baked-on enamel finish. The mag’s body features three vertical ribs, but no horizontal ribs. The inward facing rib at the rear, as on all Hungarian mags, is of the First European Ribbed Type. The followers and floorplates on these are the same as used on late Hungarian 30-round mags. The keeper, with its button showing through the floorplate, has just a gray phosphate finish.

Poland

Poland received its license to build the AK-47 in 1956 and probably started production shortly afterwards. The earliest Polish 30-round mags are of the First European Ribbed Type and bear a strong resemblance to the earliest Russian and Bulgarian Ribbed mags. The follower’s bulge, however, more closely resembles that of the earliest Bulgarian mag. Unfortunately, no factory mark will be found on these, and inspector stamps vary more than other manufacturers. Large round inspector stamps, with numbers and letters inside, are often found stamped on the spine of the very earliest mags. I have observed “K1” over “S/59”, “PW” over “3”, “K1” over “1/055”, and even large simple numbers such as a “2” or “4” stamped within these circles. A letter, a number, or a combination (such as “S2” or “S7”) will also often be found stamped on the spine or lower sides of the mag. Later examples are commonly seen with an “11” or “12” in a triangle stamped on the spine. Disassembly of one of these mags will often show inspector stamps on the side of the followers; something not found on either Russian or Bulgarian mags. Polish mags also generally show very small weld marks (or none) on the front lug while the Russian and Bulgarian mags have large/obvious weld marks on the front lug.

Late Polish Mags are of the Second European Ribbed Type, and have a black phosphate finish. They feature new followers with an elongated bulge without hole. A few of the earliest mags of this type will be found with an “11” or “12” in triangle stamped on the spine like the earlier Polish mags.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of these Late Polish Mags are unmarked, and bear a strong resemblance to those from Rumania. Polish mags will have less evident weld marks, show generally more care in construction, and have a follower that differs slightly. The front of the oval bulge on the follower, that cuts inward, is shorter, slants less, and generally is less noticeable than on a Rumanian. The cutout on the floorplate’s rear for clearance of the mag’s spine is also noticeably smaller on a Polish mag.

Poland also manufactured a 30-round black polymer mag; apparently during the late 1990s. The body, follower, and takedown plate were made from polymer while the floorplate remained a steel stamping. The front and rear lugs on the mag were steel embedded within the polymer body. “7.62×39” was molded into the mag’s body on the upper left side. All the mags I have observed had a mold number of “1” or “2” on the lower left side. Unfortunately, cracked feed lips have been a serious problem with these Polish Polymer Mags.

Rumania

Rumania appears to have started manufacturing AKs around 1963 with its MD63 variant. All Rumanian AK-47/AKM mags, because of the late start in manufacturing, are of the Second European Ribbed Type. Some of the earliest 30-round blued mags will be found with a Cugir factory mark of an “arrowhead with shaft within a triangle” on their spine that’s often confused with Izhmash’s complete feathered arrow in triangle. Most of these early blued mags just have a couple of letters and numbers stamped on the spine and lower side. After a time, the finish was changed to a black phosphate. Then the factory seems to have adopted an “O” stamped distinctively low on the spine’s side as a standard inspector stamp. Many of these “O’ marked mags will also be found with a large “22” stamped on the rear spine.

Rumanian mags show incredibly little change in their construction over their long production history. New dies were clearly made to mimic earlier ones and welding patterns remained consistent. These mags are sometimes derided for their very visible welds and poor finish. These issues are only cosmetic and they function as well, and sometimes better than, steel mags made by any other country.

Rumanian semi-auto AKs imported into the US generally came with either a 5 or 10-round shortened mag. These mags differ in length, although slightly, according to their capacity. Interestingly, the 5-round mags have a witness hole to show when it is fully loaded, but the 10-round mags do not. Unfortunately, they were made simply by cutting down a regular 30-round mag and forming crude lips for the floorplate to slide onto. Because some of the side ribs still remained on these new lips, removing or installing a floorplate generally requires a little effort. They retain the black phosphate finish found on the larger 30-round military mags. An examination of these mags clearly shows that the Rumanian Cugir factory did not take special care when producing mags for the commercial market.

China

The Chinese started production of the AK-47 in 1956. The earliest Chinese AK-47/Type 56 mag is generally referred to as the “Sino-Soviet Model” by collectors. The body is of the First European Ribbed Type and has a blued floorplate that is very similar to a number of Warsaw Pact types. The biggest difference is the use of a blued stepped-follower instead of the elongated oval bulge pattern follower found on European type mags. The body of the mag carries a black phosphate finish. A check of the bottom rear of the mag will almost always show a “66” in a triangle stamping that represents Factory 626 in the Hei Long Jing Province of China.

The second pattern Chinese mag, the “Spine-Back Transitional,” is a unique design. The mag’s body is similar to the earlier mag but lacks the three short horizontal ribs that wrap around the bottom-back of the mag. The remaining two horizontal ribs along the bottom side of the magazines are much longer than normal and go from almost the very front to the very rear. Like the Sino-Soviet model, the body is phosphated while the follower, floorplate, and keeper are blued. The follower remains the Chinese stepped pattern. All the examples I have examined are unmarked, but its design is so unique that they are easy to pick out.

A third type of Chinese mag was revealed during the Vietnam War that is called the “Chinese Spineless” by collectors. The mags two halves simply interlock, and are then spot welded together – thus eliminating the normal spine. The ribbing pattern stamped into the sides remains the same as the earlier Chinese Spine-Back Transitional. I believe this design is slightly less expensive to make and offers a slight weight savings over previous steel types; both important considerations when you’re planning on making the millions of mags that the Chinese have. Add in that they are actually easier to remove from webbing, grasp, and insert in a rifle, and you have an AK mag that has probably been seen in every post 1970 conflict featuring an AK. These mags, however, are sometimes criticized because it is felt that the lack of a spine running down the back somehow weakens them, but in reality they have proved themselves more than durable. Some of these mags made during the early 1990s, specifically for export to the US, will be found with “Made in China” stamped on the floorplate. Other examples will be found with unique stamped rear lugs instead of the normal milled type.

The Chinese Poly Tech Corporation made special high grade 30-round versions of the Chinese Spineless mag for commercial sale in the US. These “Poly Tech Mags” show superior quality control when it comes to welding and blueing, have “Poly” and “China” stamped on their floorplates, and will have three witness holes in the back to show when 10, 20, and 30 rounds are loaded. At an additional cost they were also available with a chromed follower for easier cleaning and smoother function.

The Chinese continued to seek ways to cut cost while arming its huge and expanding military forces. Sometime, probably during the 1970s, they modified the Chinese Spineless mag to make it even faster and cheaper to produce. Called the “Chinese All-Stamped” by collectors, it eliminated the re-enforcement plates welded to the top of the mag and uses a stamped rear lug. This mag eliminated the need for the feed lip reinforcement plates, usually welded to the top of the mag, by stamping a pattern at the top of the mag that added both strength and tightened its fit in a rifle’s magazine well. Only a few made it in directly from China before President Clinton sent a letter to the BATF in May of 1994 outlawing imports of Chinese ammo and guns. However, large numbers of these once rare mags were imported from the former Yugoslavia in 2007.

The Chinese Norinco Corporation also produced a 30-round brown polymer mag for the US commercial market that was designed to take advantage of the popularity of the Russian AG4 plastic mag that it clearly resembles. These mags were strengthened by having thin sheets of steel, as well as steel front and rear lugs, embedded within the polymer body. The follower, floorplate, and takedown plate remained of steel construction. These “Chinese Phenolic” mags will be found with the Norinco trademark molded into the bottom left side, and the “66” in triangle factory marking on the bottom right side.

The Chinese, always eager to fill a perceived need, developed a 20-round AK mag for the US market. Stamped from special dies, it features three vertical ribs that stop just short of the bottom and no horizontal ribs. Both 10 and 20-round witness holes are drilled into its back. Other than the above changes; the Chinese 20-round AK mag characteristics are the same as the Chinese Spineless 30-round mag.

China produced a special 5-round mag for sale with its post ban AKs meant for the US market. Stamped with special dies, it has two vertical ribs and one horizontal rib at the bottom. The Chinese 5-round AK mag uses the Chinese stepped follower, are blued, lack a witness hole, and have “China” stamped on the floorplate. “China” will be found stamped in two different sizes on the floorplate. Huge numbers of these mags were imported before the ban, and many dealers still have these new-in-wrapper for sale.

The Chinese Norinco Corporation also attempted to make a more politically correct semi-auto AK for the US market called the NHM91. They put a rivet in the rifle’s receiver, just behind the magazine well, that would only allow the insertion of a special 5-round mag with a milled cutout in its rear catch. This rivet was not required by any US import restriction or law, and most rifle owners simply ground it down so any AK mag would fit.

The NHM91 5 Round is an easy mag to pick out. It has just three vertical ribs, has the rectangular milled cutout on top of the rear catch, lacks a spine, is blued, and has the Chinese stepped follower. Interestingly; none of these that I have examined have “China” stamped on the floorplate.

In the early 1960s the Chinese developed a select fire carbine that combined features of both the AK and SKS, and was adopted by their military as the Type 63. Although little known in the West, it was made in large quantities by several factories. It was fed by a detachable 20-round mag clearly developed from the AK’s mag, but featured a special projection at the rear of the follower. This projection travels within a channel built into the rear of the mag, and activates the Type 63’s bolt hold open mechanism when the mag is empty. For some reason, probably due to the BHO mechanism, the stepped follower is reversed on a Type 63 mag – the depression from which the last round is fed is on the left side. Because of this, the witness holes, indicating when 10 and 20-rounds are loaded into a Type 63 mag, are also reversed to the rear left side. These Type 63 mags were not designed for use in full-auto AKs as they lack a milled clearance for the AK’s disconnector on the upper right side feed lip reinforcement plate. However, these mags work just fine in semi-auto AKs, but will block the bolt from closing after the last round is fired.

An impressive little collection can be made up solely of Type 63 mags. At least five steel versions, and one black plastic version have been identified. The steel mags are centered around three basic body stamping types – two vertical ribs with one horizontal rib at bottom (2+1), two vertical ribs with two horizontal ribs at bottom (2+2), and a very large star interrupting two vertical ribs with two horizontal ribs at the bottom. All three body types were made with the normal feed lip re-enforcement plates (as on a traditional AK mag), but the last two types were also made with just ribs stamped to reinforce the feed lips (similar to the Chinese All-Stamped mag).

North Korea

North Korea began manufacturing the AK-47 during the late 1950s as the Type 58. Little is known about their mags as they have never been directly imported to this country. The few 30-round mags that have made it here are clearly copies of the Chinese Sino-Soviet mag right down to the finish applied to them, and I have little doubt that they were manufactured with Chinese tooling and assistance. These can be identified by the North Korean arsenal’s mark of a five-pointed star within a circle stamped on the mags spine.

Yugoslavia

Yugoslavia’s first AK, the M64, had a couple of unique features. They were built with a grenade launcher, and a last shot bolt hold open (BHO) mechanism. A notch cut into the upper left side of the M64 mag activated the rifle’s BHO mechanism with its follower, and a button on the left side of the receiver would release the bolt after a fresh mag was inserted. While the M64 corrected the AKs often criticized lack of a BHO feature; it also created a greater problem in that normal AK mags could not be used in it. This limited foreign sales, and created possible internal supply issues.

The Yugoslavian M70 AK solved these issues in a simple way by making the mag the BHO mechanism by itself. The Yugoslavian’s just omitted two small bumps on the inside of the mag that stops the follower from traveling all the way up. In an empty M70 mag the follower is only stopped by the feed lips. A bolt returning, after the last round has been fired, will be stopped by the specially designed and strengthened follower that now blocks it. Using a Yugoslavian M70 mag in any other AK will also cause the action to remain open after the last round is fired. I believe that earlier M64 mags were upgraded to this latter pattern by simply replacing the follower with the newer type.

The Yugoslavian M64/M70 mag is easily distinguished from all other AK mags. Their blued bodies lacks the short horizontal ribs that wrap around the bottom rear of the magazine, as found on all ribbed mags but some Chinese, and the two remaining long horizontal ribs stop well short of the magazine’s front (unlike on the Chinese mag). The M64 mag will also have its unique notch on the upper left side.

Examination of Yugo M70 mags coming out of the former Yugoslavia shows two distinct variants. The two mags are quickly differentiated by the shape of the witness hole in their back – round or triangular. Very notable differences in the follower and front catch will also be seen as well as less distinctive differences in just about every other part. The general better condition of the Triangular Witness-Hole M70 Mags, along with the fact that the earlier M64 mags have round holes, has led to the probable conclusion that they are of newer manufacture. The lack of any transitional mags, between the two types, would also seem to indicate production at two different factories.

There has been some speculation that the triangular witness-hole M70 mags were made in Iraq, and provided as aid to the Muslim forces of Bosnia. However; I have yet to hear of a triangular witness-hole mag being found in Iraq. Most likely the triangular M70 mags were simply made at a second plant in Yugoslavia set up to meet the demands of the Yugoslavian civil wars.

No short 5-round sporting type mags were produced by the Yugoslavian factory for commercial sales in the US. Post ’89 Ban rifles, sold by Mitchell Arms, came with full size 30-round mags that were simply blocked to accept only 5 rounds.

Bosnia

In 2006, in a large shipment of AK mags from the now dissolved country of Yugoslavia, came two newly discovered, but clearly related, 30-round mags produced in what is now Bosnia. These mags were made so that the bolt would be blocked by the follower after the last round is fired and were probably made under less than desirable conditions for the cutoff Bosnian forces. They are crudely stamped and welded, and poorly finished with what appears to be gray phosphate. Quality control clearly suffered on these as a few of my mags are too wide to insert into my Chinese made AKs. Disassembly of one will also show that the plant making them relied on bent flat-springs instead of the traditional coil spring. These mags show both the ingenuity of the manufacturer, and the desperation to arm the fledgling Bosnian forces.

Both Bosnian mags are essentially the same having only one wide outward facing vertical rib running down the side. The only real difference is the inclusion of a large stamped “fleur-de-lis” symbol on the bottom sides of one of the mags. The fleur-de-lis has special meaning to the Bosnian people, and is included on their national flag. This symbol is also used by the Boyscout organization and this has led to this mag being referred to by collectors as the “Bosnian Boyscout mag.” The mag without the fleur-de-lis symbol is simply called the “Bosnian Single Rib.”

The so called “Bosnian Two-Rib” steel mag was also unknown in the US until the above 2006 shipment. However, there is still some very reasonable speculation that these may actually be of Croatian origin. They appear to be what they are claimed to be: a rushed expedient mag manufactured for an army cutoff from outside supply. Most have a hastily applied blued finish, but a few also appear to have an equally poor phosphate finish. These mags generally have rather poorly made followers, floorplates, and keepers. There are two types of followers, unique to this mag, that are often poorly welded; one of which appears too short in length. The floorplates generally are poorly fitted and will often wobble side-to-side on the magazine. The keepers often are over-sized thus making disassembly of the mag difficult. Many of these also have a letter (W, X, etc.) and a number (2, 3, 5, 6, etc.) stamped on the bottom rear of the mag.

There has been some speculation that the Bosnian Two-Rib was designed as a bolt hold-open mag because it lacks the normal dimples on its inside that prevent a follower from traveling all the way up. Pulling an AK’s bolt backwards and releasing it on an empty mag will usually result in the bolt being stopped by the follower. However, when firing the last round in a mag, the greater returning force of the bolt invariably pushes the follower down so that the action will close. The traditional rounded end of the follower’s bulge allows this to happen and also generally results in damage to the follower over time. The reasons for making a mag in such a way, other than to simplify production, escapes me.

United States

In order to convert an imported rifle to a banned configuration, or build such a rifle from an imported parts kit, a certain number of U.S. made parts must be used. A U.S. made mag is an easy way to provide three such compliance parts – the mag body, the follower, and the floorplate. This fact has spurred the U.S. development and production of AK mags.

A US manufacturer, National Magazine, has been producing metal AK mags since the ban was lifted. Taking the Chinese All-Stamped as a model, they stamp out the tops separately and then weld mag bodies of various lengths to these. Using this production model, they are able to produce mags in an incredible variety of capacities. They produce mags in 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, and even 100-round capacities. As mentioned earlier; the end product strongly resembles a Chinese All-Stamped mag, but the use of a green plastic follower and the welded joining of the upper and lower halves clearly differentiates them. No markings are found on these mags and they carry a glossy black enamel finish. Unfortunately, my experiences with these mags have not been good and I can not recommend them.

When Pro-Mag first introduced its U.S. made polymer AK mags, they only made a 30-round black version. These early mags had thin gauged 19 coil mag springs that were noticeable shorter than a Russian AG4 mag’s 22 coil mag spring. Failure to feed properly was a common problem with these early mags. Pro-Mag increased the gauge and length of latter springs, still with just 19 coil springs, on latter production mags and this has apparently solved feeding problems. These mags are also sometimes found too long to fit in AKs, but the careful removal of a little material from the rear lug will solve this problem. Construction is entirely of polymer except for the steel spring.

Pro-Mag significantly increased their offerings in 2007. They now make Black, Coyote Tan, and O.D. Green mags with capacities of 5, 10, 20, and 30 rounds. They also make clear and smoke colored transparent mags with a 30-round capacity. “PRO MAG” is prominently molded into the bottom left side of the mag as well as the floorplate. In a sign of the times, the company’s internet address is also molded into the floorplate.

An unexpected black synthetic 30-round mag from Thermold Design & Development showed up on the market in 2007. These Thermold Mags are marked “Master Molder” on both the right side and floorplate, and carry the “Law & Gov’t Use Only” warning on the left side from the high capacity mag ban period. They are made from a durable Nylon resin called Zytel and have three large horizontal ribs wrapping around both the sides and front of the mag. A very prominent and strong floorplate sticks out on the bottom. I would not consider them an “attractive” mag. Thermold’s web site shows that it also offers a 10-round version of its Zytel mag, but I have been unable to find any distributors with them.

A quick examination reveals that they lack an anti-tilt follower. Disassembly will show they use a spring not interchangeable with those from military AK mags. On the plus side, the Zytel lugs look better designed, and more substantial, then those of a Pro Mag. I have had no problem inserting these in any of my rifles, and so far functioning has been 100%.

Tapco introduced a U.S. made polymer 30-round mag in the fall of 2008. These mags have a very distinctive ribbed pattern and an unusual flared-out bottom. “Tapco USA” is molded into the top left side of the mag, and the follower. The steel floorplate, the only steel in the mag other than the spring, is also stamped “Tapco USA”. “7.62x39mm” will be found molded into the upper right side. Interestingly; a small date code, and a cage code number, are also molded into the mag. They produce these colored in either black, dark earth, or olive drab.

I had no trouble inserting these Tapco mags into any of my AKs. The lugs, although Polymer, appear strong and the follower is of an anti-tilt design. It uses standard AK type springs, which actually appear to be stronger and longer then those found in many military mags. Limited function testing showed 100% reliability. These mags would appear to be an excellent choice for the shooter needing U.S. made mags.

Conclusion

What is left out there to be discovered? Obviously there are some still unidentified types. Hopefully, we will see some of the distinctive Rumanian 20-round mags carried by the dreaded “Securitate” in their compact AKMs from the 1989 Rumanian revolution. Albania and Iran are reportedly making copies of the Chinese Spineless mag. Iraq probably made a version of the Yugo M70 BHO mag, and some cut down 20-round mags. Cuba is probably making mags that follow Russian patterns. North Korea almost certainly has made changes to its 30-round AK mag over the years and its soldiers have clearly been seen with 20-round mags. There is also no doubt that there are several other countries that are making, or have made, mags as well.

What are the best mags for the shooter? It is hard to go wrong with any of the European Ribbed or Chinese steel types. The Bulgarian Waffle and Soviet AG4 mags are excellent choices for those looking for military quality synthetic mags – but will cost you more. I would also suggest finding some 20-round Hungarian or Chinese mags for shooting from a benchrest. The shooter needing US made mags also has several good choices.

In the December, 2009 issue (Vol. 13, No. 3) of Small Arms Review we tested the MD-20 Drum Magazine designed for the Saiga-12 by MD Arms, Ltd. We barely scratched the surface of the Saiga-12 story and since we have received many requests for more information, we are continuing this month by testing the radical S17 Tromix conversion. As the MD-20 article was going through the final preparation for print, we got a call from Tony Rumore, CEO of Tromix, asking if we had ever tried the Tromix S17. We had not, and soon thereafter a test gun arrived. We are happy to introduce you to your next addiction.

Tromix Lead Delivery Systems

Tony Rumore and the company he founded in 1999, Tromix, has been responsible for some very radical gun designs with some of the most interesting (some would say craziest) gun projects in recent memory. With a company philosophy that plainly states “Entertainment is our main objective” and a proven commitment to high quality over mass quantity, Rumore has had gun enthusiasts gawking over some of his wild creations since he hit the industry.

Early on, their specialty leaned towards the big bore black rifle market. He was an early pioneer in such projects as the Sledgehammer Series with chamberings including .44 AutoMag, .440 CorBon, .458 SOCOM, .475 Tremor and .50 Action Express. Since they were a little before the time when these increasingly popular big bores really took off, Rumore shelved the Sledgehammer Series and kept searching for a larger market share. He seems to have found his calling in the Tromix/Saiga series and continues to specialize in this area today.

The signature model today for Tromix is the 8-inch barreled “Micro-12” model. It is a custom built, Kalashnikov based, 12-gauge with a Shark brake and HK battle sights. The reliability has increased several-fold from the original stock guns, and the use of almost any 12-gauge round will cycle and feed with ease. For a gun known for being finicky with ammo, it is a great leap to have this new and improved design eat everything you can throw in it, from bulk-pack, low-brass to heavy magnum rounds, reliably and comfortably.

With the Tromix reputation and business growing steadily, primarily known for the painstaking time necessary to produce the superior quality they demand, the backlog has been increasing as fast as they can make these custom guns. This created some problems, so Rumore needed to make some business changes to continue to meet the demands of new customers. Instead of ramping up production and risking the loss of quality, he simply developed a new market plan: in effect today.

The “old” Tromix used to take orders and build in order of an ever-growing waiting list. People started to grumble about the long wait time so the new Tromix plan is as follows; every month the lines open up for orders for the next 30 days. After the number of builds get to the end of that amount of work, the order lines close until the beginning of the next month. This only puts new orders one month out from delivery and solves many issues at once. It stops the ever-growing list and long build times and gives those who place their order at the beginning of the month a product in a 30-day period. This is a new plan but so far it is working great and everyone seems pleased.

From Stock Saiga to Tromix Approved

Even though countless people have been dedicated cheerleaders of the Saiga-12 series since its introduction, it has not been without controversy. It is no secret that the quality of each gun, even exact models, can vary greatly with every order. The greatest abnormalities in quality seem to be focused on the gas-piston operating system. Since we started researching the Saiga-12 guns we have learned that the reason some are so finicky on ammo is that the number AND the diameter of gas ports are not always the same from one gun to another. There doesn’t seem to be any official reason for this and among the most vocal enthusiasts of the Saiga-12 platform (you can find them by visiting www.saiga12.com) just seems to be an accepted risk in buying these guns. Since the entire system is rebuilt and overhauled in the Tromix guns it is a moot point, and for those looking for a fast, and reliable quick-fix, MD Arms, Ltd. has developed their adjustable “Gunfixers Improved Gas Plug” to help properly regulate and solve the gas problems.

When you send your factory Saiga-12 to Tromix for their basic fixed stock conversion, it will receive the following upgrades for the price of only $395:

• SAW pistol grip,
• Re-machined receiver end to correct angle,
• Tig welded back plate,
• Welded selector safety stop,
• Welded Tromix trigger guard,
• Welded up discarded axis pin holes,
• U.S. manufactured fire control parts,
• Gas block realigned as necessary,
• New, fixed Tromix stock,
• Mag-well modified for hi-capacity magazines,
• Extractor tuned with proper barrel relief,
• Sand-blasted with aluminum oxide media,
• Refinished with black, bake-on Norrell Moly Resin.

Several upgrades can be purchased at the time of the order and range from shortening barrels (NFA and Title 1 lengths), folding stock, threaded muzzle, night sights, HK sights, Shark brake, and much more.

The Tromix S17

When you decide to step into one of the most radical NFA redesigns, you have the option of the Tromix S17. This upgrade includes all the work previously listed with the following available options and accessories:

• 8-inch barrel (10, 12 and 14-inch also available),
• Tromix folding stock,
• Galil charging handle,
• Door-breeching “Shark” muzzle brake
• SRTrigger
• XS night sights
• Limbsaver recoil pad
• Kross Hellion handguard

On the Range

We have had several opportunities to bring the S17 out to test it and to solicit opinions and observations. For something we first thought may just be an interesting novelty, it turned into a “regular” on every outing with people lining up to run a magazine (or drum or two) at every opportunity.

Since stock, factory Saiga-12s have a reputation for excessive recoil, the interest in the S17 is usually just curiousness at first. After people watch others shoot magazine after magazine through it, all with the same smile and what would seem as choreographed remarks about how low the recoil really is, the curiosity peaks to taking the next position in line.

To clear up a little about the varying recoil reports in the stock Saiga-12s, we can offer this as another example of the inconsistency of the gas systems. We once thought it was just that some people were a little more “recoil sensitive” than other people, but after firing a few with different experiences with supposedly identical guns, this writer can attest that some just have more recoil than others. The cause is most likely due to the inconsistent number and size of the gas ports. An excessive amount of gas will usually lead to excessive recoil so this makes perfect sense. All that aside, the Tromix guns have this problem solved so it is no longer an issue.

Thus far we have shot skeet, partridge and several range abandoned automobiles in huge quantities. No matter whether using the MD-20 20-round drum or any of the many stick magazines, it has yet to malfunction in any way. Although this writer prefers a stout load for “work projects” it is pretty nice to have the option to break out several 100-round, Wal-Mart Bulk Packs of #7 low-brass when everyone wants to try it. It is as easy on the wallet as it is the eyes (and the shoulder) at that point.

During the Maine Ruffed Grouse season we had the chance to take the S17 into the field and are pleased to report that if the shooter can do his part, the frying pan fills just as fast as any previous season. Maine Snowshoe Hare testing will also commence immediately following this writing.

Tactical or Tacticool?

We posed this question to a few people who carry firearms (yes, long guns) for work, and the impression was usually the same. The short barrel makes the S17 a fantastic “up close and personal” gun. For building, or even vehicle entry the short barrel and the eye-catching Tromix “Shark” brake should function great as a standoff device for breaching. (A test we have not done ourselves as of yet.) The sturdy and serrated brake will break windows with little effort and stands almost no chance of sustaining any kind of serious abuse. Since it is a 12-gauge chambering, it has the ability to fire several specialty rounds, from the fastest slug to many of the less lethal rounds. The magazine feed allows the user to carry preloaded magazines with an assortment of ammo, making load-type changes fast and simple. When this question was to be posed to Rumore, his company motto stating, “Entertainment is our main objective” immediately came to mind – and we can attest that it is both fun and useful.

Conclusion

The Tromix S17 is a definite winner. It is VERY well made, with every aspect of fit, finish, quality and craftsmanship receiving high marks. It is a great looking gun, resembling a Krink that was blended with a Galil on steroids. Every shortfall of the original guns has been addressed and rectified, multi-fold. It is as fun to shoot as it is to look at and has all the potential to be as serious a professional tool as it is just plain fun to shoot. As the ultimate complement, this writer has already started a list for “thinning the herd” of numerous other scatterguns since shooting the S17 because the cold, hard fact is they will just keep pushing further to the rear of the gun safe now. The S17 is the first one out in almost every shotgun application. If you are a big-bore fan with a passion for well-made, military-style firearms the Tromix S17 will not let you down.

Sources

Tromix S17 Shotguns
TROMIX
Dept. SAR
405 N. Walnut Ave. #8
Broken Arrow, OK 74012
Phone: (918) 251-5640
E-mail: Rumore@Tromix.com
Website: www.tromix.com

MD-20, 12-Gauge Drum
MD Arms, Ltd.
Dept. SAR
PO Box 237
Casstown, OH 45312
E-mail: info@mdarms.com
Website: www.mdarms.com

Saiga-12 Information
Online Forum
www.saiga12.com

Tromix S17 Specifications
As Tested

Caliber: 12-Gauge
Operating system: Piston w/adj. gas plug
Overall weight
(empty): 7lbs, 7oz
Overall length:
(stock folded): 22.25 inches
(stock open): 33.25 inches
Chamber: 2-3/4 inch and 3 inch
Barrel: 12-inch Smoothbore
Sights: XS Night Sights
Stock: Tromix Side-Folding
Accessories:
Galil-Style Charging Handle, Shark
Muzzle Brake, /Limbsaver Recoil Pad
MSRP as tested: $2,180

This has to be not only the rarest gun on the line; it is also the rarest BAR in private hands. The subject of this piece is the M1922 Cavalry Model BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle).

Very few, if any, survived the modification to M1918A2 that was so badly needed for World War II. On February 27, 1920, The Infantry and Cavalry Board called for a modified BAR that could take the place of the M1919A4 for cavalry deployment of a Light MG. It could be put in place instantly without preparation. The special BAR weighed fully loaded 25 pounds, where the 1919 weighed 31 pounds and had to be set up and then loaded. For the fast moving cavalry, this could be carried on mule or horseback for instant use. The short lived M1922 Cavalry Model had a finned heavy barrel with a bipod attached to the forestock. A monopod with an elevation mechanism was added to the buttstock. An improved rear sight cover was added with a sights adjusted to the new weapon. They actually considered dropping the 1919 series of light machine guns for this model.

There is a BAR with a heavy barrel at the Springfield Armory Museum that is heavily charred. Its 6.5 pound finned barrel is discolored from the heat. The tag states that John M. Browning personally put 5,000 rounds through it as rapidly as possible. The barrel was very similar to the one found on the M1909 Benet-Mercie model used at the turn of the twentieth century. Browning, as was his wont, had to prove the feasibility of putting so many rounds through his BAR.

They also developed special carriers and mounts for horse and mule carriers that held the BAR in a scabbard with four, three hundred round, metal boxes for loaded BAR Magazines. Most interesting and little known, the Board asked that forty, thirty-round magazines be developed to increase firepower. They also requested that special canvas carriers be developed top hold the 30-round magazines. Twenty were to go to Camp Benning, Georgia, and twenty to Ft. Riley, Kansas.

It is well documented that 40-round magazines were developed. There are photographs of them in France taken in 1917. Additionally, the Colt Monitor was advertised with 40-round magazines available. Where are these 30-round and 40-round magazines now? That is the big question. Keep looking – as there must be a few still out there.

The Early Marks

The trademarks registered by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation are an interesting lot. These marks offer an early insight into the future product development of a small hand- picked team brought together by General John T. Thompson, a team that appeared destined for greatness. With almost unlimited financing by New York financier Thomas Fortune Ryan, success seemed virtually guaranteed.

Of course, success can be fickle… and a long time in coming. Looking back at Auto-Ordnance now, it is easy to praise the development of their one great product, the Thompson submachine gun. However, the early years of the Thompson gun would not be defined as successful – unless you were a member of the Irish Republican Army or a Chicago gangster. But success did come. Through the great efforts of the United States Marine Corps in China and Nicaragua during the late 1920s, the American military finally, albeit very slowly, recognized the potential of this new type of weapon. The Thompson gun, marked with the famous Auto-Ordnance trademarks, became well known and respected in World War II by all Allied forces.

There is a good reason why no previous studies have been done on the trademarks registered by the Auto-Ordnance Corporation (AOC); the marks are difficult to locate. There is no electronic master indexing of early trademarks for any company at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. If your interest lies with early trademarks, especially those that have expired, be prepared to look through a lot of old books. It is a very manual search process, something not routinely performed in this age of push button automation. To that end, be advised the trademarks shown in this story are only the marks uncovered by this author and may not be all the marks registered by AOC.

The first trademark registered, AUT-ORD-CO- was registered on December 23, 1919. This mark was used in many early AOC advertisements and was displayed prominently on the company letterhead for many years. It was also marked on the top of the receiver on the first Colt manufactured Thompsons. The mark was renewed by AOC on December 23, 1939.

The next trademark registered by AOC was for the AUTORIFLE. This was actually the initial development project undertaken by the engineers at AOC; the submachine gun came later. The only known use of this mark was on the stock of a .30 caliber test Autorifle manufactured for AOC by Colt for the 1921 military trials. Unfortunately, this rifle may not have survived as its whereabouts is presently unknown. This mark was registered on January 20, 1920 and renewed on January 20, 1940.

Three more marks were registered for AOC on March 15, 1921. The first was AUTOGUN; the second was AUTOPISTOL. These marks were renewed on March 15, 1941. No AOC literature or firearms have been observed bearing these marks.

General Thompson coined the term SUBMACHINE GUN in American vocabulary with the introduction of a gun bearing his last name. The subsequent registration of this mark on March 15, 1921 came as no surprise. This mark was also renewed by AOC on March 15, 1941.

The mark MACHINE-PISTOL was registered on September 20, 1921. The registration statement was signed by M. H. Thompson, Vice President, Auto-Ordnance Corporation. M. H. Thompson is Marcellus Thompson, the son of General John Thompson. This mark was renewed by AOC on September 20, 1941.

The Thompson Mark

The next mark registered by AOC is the now very familiar Thompson name inside the bullet logo. It was registered on December 27, 1921. AOC had now moved to the well known 302 Broadway, New York address. AOC claimed this mark was for use on “shotguns, pistols, rifles, machine-guns, submachine-guns, field-guns, siege-guns, seacoast-guns, naval guns, magazines for any of said guns, and bayonets…” The registration statement explained, “The word “Thompson” forming an element of the trade mark is a facsimile of the surname of General John Taliaferro Thompson as written by him.” This mark replaced the AUT-ORD-CO- mark stamped on the top of the receiver of Colt manufactured Thompson guns and was renewed by AOC on December 27, 1941.

The Tommy Mark

A change of ownership at the AOC occurred on July 21, 1939. Wall Street securities underwriter John Russell Maguire was able to underwrite a new stock offering that removed the debt ridden AOC from the estate of Thomas Fortune Ryan and gave Maguire control of the company. Feeling another world war was on the horizon, Maguire immediately took steps to put the Thompson gun back in production. AOC officials renewed the registration of all the early AOC trademarks and later registered a new mark – TOMMY. This mark is one half of the now famous designation, TOMMY GUN, and has become a generic expression for nearly all types of submachine guns. Interestingly, AOC registered only one of the two words, TOMMY, on June 2, 1942. This registration was never renewed and lapsed on June 2, 1962.

Careful reading of the Registration document for the mark TOMMY revealed AOC owned another trademark, No. 382793. Review of this mark revealed it is also the word TOMMY, registered on November 12, 1940 by Charles H. Morrill, Jr., the owner of B-B Air Machine Gun, Co. in Santa Monica, California. This company produced “Gallery Air Machine Guns Which Discharge Pellets.” Mr. Morrill had beat AOC to the trademark office for the word TOMMY in the firearms field. The circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the mark TOMMY from Mr. Morrill by AOC are unknown. The original filing date by AOC for the word TOMMY was October 4, 1941. Apparently, the registration ran into some trouble at the Trademark Office and AOC was forced to acquire Mr. Morrill’s rights to this mark before their registration would be accepted and registered over one year later. The registration for No. 382782 was never renewed and lapsed on November 12, 1960.

Maguire knew AOC would not survive after the war if its only product was a very expensive submachine gun designed over 25 years previously. As the war progressed, he took steps to diversify the product line of AOC. One of the first new ventures was in the field of electronics and was the final trademark found to be registered by AOC. This mark was actually used for two Trademark applications, both filed in the later part of 1943.

Shortly after the last AOC trademark was published at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Auto-Ordnance Corporation changed its name to Maguire Industries, Incorporated. The Thompson gun became part of the Auto-Ordnance Division of Maguire Industries, one of many products offered by Russell Maguire. The Law

Trademark registration was for a period of 20 years when all of these marks were initially registered by AOC. Renewal of the trademark every 20 years could keep the mark protected indefinitely. Currently, trademark registrations issued on or after November 16, 1989 only have a ten-year term, renewable every ten years. Trademarks can be bought and sold and then transferred to a new owner in a process known as an Assignment.

After the War…

It is well established that George Numrich, owner of the Numrich Arms Company, purchased all the Thompson assets on October 23, 1951 from former AOC executive Frederic A. Willis. One question often asked is did George Numrich also purchase or acquire the rights to the AOC trademarks. All the marks represented above were still under trademark protection at the time of the sale to George Numrich. Regrettably, this question cannot be completely answered at this time. If an Assignment did occur, it would have had to have happened prior to 1955. There are no Assignment records at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office prior to 1955 for inactive or dead trademarks. All of the trademarks represented above expired 20 years from the registration date or last renewal date and the files related to these records have been purged. The only record preserved is the initial registration statement and latest renewal information, if any. If George Numrich did own any of the early trademarks, he allowed them all too quietly expire in the late 1950s early 1960s.

One piece of evidence does exist that suggests AOC may have assigned the rights to at least one trademark, the word THOMPSON. The Kilgore Manufacturing Company of Westerville, Ohio, used the trademark THOMPSON in an advertising sales brochure. Kilgore was the first buyer of the Thompson assets, and later sold these assets to Frederic A. Willis.

The “New” Auto-Ordnance Corporation

Fast forward to 1974 and the formation of a new Auto-Ordnance Corporation in West Hurley, New York by Ira Trast, the President of Numrich Arms, and George Numrich. Thompson enthusiasts know this is the “second” Auto-Ordnance Corporation (AOC) in the history of the Thompson gun – both formed in the State of New York. Records from the New York Secretary State office show this new AOC was created on July 14, 1974. Production of the new ATF approved Thompson Model of 1927A1 semiautomatic rifle began in 1975 with 932 rifles being produced. Manufacture of the full-auto Model of 1928 Thompson submachine gun also began in 1975 with 199 submachine guns being produced. All of these initial rifles and sub-guns produced in 1975, and the years to follow, were marked with the famous Thompson signature in a bullet logo trademark. Unbeknownst to most everyone at the time, this mark was not protected.

The new AOC in West Hurley, New York did not apply for trademark protection of the well known Thompson trademark until 1984, ten years after the new AOC was created.

Mr. Trast, the former President of the Auto-Ordnance Corporation in West Hurley, New York, was contacted for this story. Mr. Trast said the decision to create a “new” Auto-Ordnance Corporation in West Hurley, New York, was an easy decision. He and Mr. Numrich believed a market for a semiautomatic Thompson gun existed. They believed machine guns had become a real “no-no” in the USA, but a semiautomatic version or copy of a popular submachine gun like the Thompson would be a good seller. He recalled it took a lot of time to obtain approval from the Treasury Department’s Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) to manufacture a semiautomatic only Thompson gun.

Mr. Trast does not know if Mr. Numrich owned the original Thompson trademarks. But he has no reason to believe Mr. Numrich did not own the “Thompson” trademark as he certainly owned everything else – and had owned it for a long time. He said George Numrich had tons of Thompson parts and paperwork, all types of tooling, piles of drawings, crates and crates and crates of parts – “you can’t imagine the amount of (Thompson) items we had at Numrich Arms.” However, he does not remember the old or original Thompson trademarks ever being a point of discussion or issue when forming the new AOC.

Mr. Trast recalled the biggest problem they faced in the early years of the new AOC involved getting the semiautomatic gun into production. This was a completely new and very different gun from the full auto Thompson. Production of the full auto Thompson began after the semi-auto gun was underway. Mr. Trast described production of the full auto as “an easy project.” George Numrich had all the drawings and tooling for the full auto guns along with tons of original parts.

When informed about the 10 year difference in the start of the new Auto-Ordnance Corporation (AOC) and the initial registration of the trademark “Thompson,” Mr. Trast sounded surprised and said “maybe we discovered” we did not own the Thompson trademark and went ahead and registered it. Mr. Trast quickly added that he does not remember anything about this lapse of time in the registration of the name “Thompson.” His memory is not as good as it has been in the past and he wished he had been asked about this 20 years ago as he probably would have remembered a lot more. He said that it is very possible George Numrich may have handled this issue as, “George did take care of a lot of the legal matters” related to the new AOC.

While president of AOC, Mr. Trast recalled hearing comments about how the new AOC was not the original AOC. He purposely stayed away from that debate – “left it alone.” He also remembers some people refusing to do business with the new AOC because it was not the original AOC. Mr. Trast said he and the other employees of AOC were too involved in operating a successful business to worry about such things. He does believe there is a “continuing history” or connection to the original AOC started by General Thompson in 1916, the Thompson as purchased by Mr. Numrich in 1951 and the new AOC he and Mr. Numrich formed in 1974.

Mr. Trast stopped working full time for AOC in 1993 and retired in 1996. His association with George Numrich started in 1966 when he went to work for Numrich Arms Corporation as the Comptroller. He later became the Vice-President and President of Numrich Arms before becoming the president of AOC in West Hurley, New York. He is an accountant by trade.

At the Trademark Office

Documents located at the U.S. Patent and Trademark office show AOC did not submit an application for the registration of the mark “Thompson” until July 25, 1984.

U.S. Trademark Examiner Ernest H. Land initially “refused” the application for Trademark for the mark “Thompson” in December 1984 because the word Thompson is a common surname in the United States. Examiner Land gave the applicants 6 months to reply or this application would be deemed abandoned. He went on to state that “in view of your long use of this mark… a proper claim of distinctiveness” could be made if “the mark has become distinctive as applied to the goods (or services) as a result of your substantially exclusive and continuous use in commerce (specifying the type of commerce) for the five years next preceding the filing date of this application. Such a claim must be supported by an affidavit or by a declaration.

“On January 22, 1985, a short affidavit signed by Ira Trast as President of AOC was filed with the Trademark office. Mr. Trast stated he “believes that its trademark THOMPSON has become distinctive as applied to its goods as a result of its substantially exclusive and continuous use in interstate commerce for the five years next preceding the filing date of this application and for many years prior thereto.”

On May 28, 1985, the mark THOMPSON was accepted for publication in the Official Gazette of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This allowed any interested party a venue to oppose registration.

On February 19, 1991, Mr. Trast, through his attorneys, filed a Declaration with the Commissioner of the Patent and Trademark office declaring everything filed with this office was true and correct under the penalty of perjury and that the mark has been in continuous use in interstate commerce for five consecutive years from September 17, 1985 until present. The declaration further stated that “there had been no final decision adverse to registrant’s claim of ownership of said mark and its rights to register the same or maintain it on the register.”

The registration of the mark was allowed to stand and this small oversight by Mr. Numrich and Mr. Trast in 1974 was remedied. The trademark THOMPSON is currently registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by Saeilo Enterprises, Inc. This is the parent company of Kahr Arms, the current owner of the Thompson gun.

Smith & Wesson has reacted to two powerful market forces with its latest offering – the M&P15-22. Without getting into a policy debate, the AR-15 is the best selling rifle model in America. This stems from its capabilities and versatility mixed with present political climate. Along these same lines ammunition costs have spiked dramatically. Many are searching for ways to maintain or increase proficiency without having to spend disproportionate amounts of their individual budgets on ammunition. The idea of shooting a .22 LR out of an AR is not a new concept; various kits have been on the market allowing users to substitute bolt carriers into their AR and benefit from firing the inexpensive .22 LR in full-size ARs for training purposes without having to invest in a new rifle. While useful, these kits often suffer from poor reliability and substandard accuracy. Anytime you adapt something to work in another platform not originally designed for it, reliability can suffer. 5.56MM/.223Rem barrels are slightly overbore for a .22 LR, which negatively impacts accuracy. Barrels designed for .22 LR typically have a diameter of .220-.221, whereas a 5.56mm/.223Rem barrel feature .224. An adapted AR utilizing a .22 LR needs to be cleaned thoroughly before resuming use in its original 5.56/.223 role. This is due to lead build up in the barrel and gas tube. Other manufactures have gotten around this by introducing complete uppers chambered for 22LR that can fit on a shooters existing lower. Prices for these dedicated uppers often rival complete new rifles, which impacts popularity. S&W is not the only recent entrant into the AR .22 LR market with both Colt and SIG Sauer having models. However, the S&W M&P15-22 is not only the less expensive variant, but better replicates the control layout of the AR-15.

S&W has brought something original to the table in the form of the M&P15-22 by utilizing a polymer material upper, lower, and forend rail to achieve cost effectiveness in a design that began from the ground up to accommodate the .22 LR in a frame simulating a full-size AR. Importantly, S&W kept AR controls such as safety, charging handle, magazine release, and bolt release levers in the same place as 5.56/.223 chambered rifles. The 16 inch barrel has 1:15 twist and the M&P15-22 weighs approximately 5 pounds. The six-position stock fully extended gives a length of 34 inches and collapsed 31 inches. Any “purists” who have issue with durability of polymer would do well to remember that the same type of negativity was leveled at the appearance of the first Glock pistols.

Features that make the AR-15 popular are present on the S&W M&P15-22 as well; such as full-length quad rail for adding a multitude of accessories including forward pistol grips, laser designators, bipods, and flashlights. One quick note here is that the polymer quad rail is not removable. The upper receiver is an A3 style “flat top” design, which allows users to easily mount sights of various styles or types. The M&P15-22 comes standard with detachable open sights that replicate the sight picture of standard AR-15s. These were used for initial testing before succumbing to the temptation of mounting everything from a Trijicon Reflex, 5.5 ACOG, and ATN Ultra Digital red-dot sight. The polymer construction in no way compromises the ability to mount 1913 Mil-Std accessories on either the quad rail or flat top receiver. The Picatinny rail is convenient for switching between sights without having to purchase extra sets of ring/bases. The AR’s popularity ensures plenty of sights are on the market ready for use with the M&P15-22.

While the lower’s polymer construction does not allow for the replacing of the buffer tube, S&W has still designed the M&P15-22 to accept buttstock styles of shooters choice. The six-position collapsible stock that comes standard is handy, especially if younger shooters are using the rifle. Its adjustability allows for length of pull to fit smaller frame shooters. All of this allows a shooter to recreate their primary ARs set-up on the M&P15-22 if so desired for training familiarity purposes comparable to a centerfire weapon. Many may not go to this trouble and allow M&P15-22 to stand alone as a .22 LR. S&W’s attention to detail in terms of this extends to the M&P15-22 magazine design. The 25-round magazine is of similar dimensions to standard AR-15 30-round magazines. This further duplicates the similarity of handling and manual of arms between the .22 LR and centerfire variants. The same web gear and magazine pouches utilized for AR-15 magazines will work for the M&P15-22 magazine.

S&W equips the M&P15-22 with an AR-type of trigger that can be retrofitted with any of the aftermarket “drop in” types on the market. Again, this is a nod to the design concept of replicating the AR platform feel in the .22 LR offering. The M&P15-22 breaks down similar to the AR-15 with the only difference being the bolt assembly is a one-piece affair versus the bolt carrier group on a centerfire variant AR-15 and the charging handle is made from polymer material similar to the rifle’s construction. The M&P .22 LR is a straight blow-back action and not gas operated. The only questioning observation I have with the M&P15-22 is why the muzzle is not threaded and equipped with an AR style muzzle brake or flash hider of some type. This would not only follow the “duplicate” AR theme, but enable shooters to mount a suppressor on the M&P15-22 if so desired. This is an increasingly popular Class III application.

Range visits further sealed the original good impression of the M&P15-22. The S&W M&P15-22 does everything a .22 LR should do such as providing solid accuracy and reliable semiautomatic shooting for enhancing marksmanship capabilities in shooters of all skill levels. S&W takes this one step further with the M&P15-22 due to being able to serve as an understudy to its centerfire AR-15 brethren. The range of .22 LR allows for effective target engagement out to 100 yards before the ballistic gods swat it out of the air. This is more than enough for users with open sights or non-magnified aiming devices to not feel handicapped in typical training scenarios.

Range test and evaluation consisted of normal firing from bench for accuracy assessment of Winchester, Wolf, Remington, and CCI .22 LR loads. The Trijicon 5.5 ACOG was used for this due to magnification. Groups at 25 and 50 yards were in the sub-MOA range, which is more than accurate enough for a rifle meant to be shot from standing, kneeling, or similar shooting positions away from the bench. After accuracy benchmark was established, a Trijicon Reflex and ATN Ultra Digital sight were installed for further range evaluation. Courses of fire were set up similar to what are used for centerfire training involving multiple steel targets and magazine changes while moving between cover positions. The M&P15-22 performed well though it took some time get used to the lack of muzzle blast while moving through the courses of fire. This is the real advantage of .22 LR, even more so with a weapon that mirrors ones primary battle rifle in terms of feel and controls. Muzzle blast and recoil often masks flaws in marksmanship principals. There are no excuses to miss steel poppers under 50 yards away. If you are missing, it is time to slow down and re-evaluate. Here the advantage of being able to fire hundreds and even thousands of rounds of .22 LR for significantly less than the cheapest centerfire surplus ammunition becomes evident.

The .22 LR M&P15-22 can fall in line with the traditional .22 LR role of introducing new shooters to the sport. Trigger control and steady hold can be perfected with minimal recoil and blast. Proper sight alignment and trigger control is easy to self diagnose. The economic advantages of the .22 LR are here again a major plus: inexperienced shooters can afford to practice much longer. The ATN Ultra Digital sight aided in getting aiming concepts across to my young son who could relate to seeing the red holographic dot versus eye relief issues of a scope or having to combine front and rear sight relation typical of open sights. The Trijicon Reflex offers the same characteristics but could be considered a little “salty” for setting up a .22 LR for an inexperienced shooter to get trigger time with. The M&P15-22 has the added benefit of training shooters of all skill levels in manipulation techniques of an AR. Along these same lines experienced shooters gain from training with M&P15-22 without having to deal with blast and recoil of centerfire AR as well as reinforcing muscle memory for instinctive operation.

Smith & Wesson
2100 Roosevelt Ave
Springfield, MA 01104
(800) 331-0852
www.smith-wesson.com

American Technologies
Network Corp, Inc. (ATN)
1341 San Mateo Ave
S. San Francisco, CA 94080
(800) 910-2862
www.atncorp.com

Trijicon Inc.
49385 Shafer Ave
PO Box 930059
Wixom, MI 48393
(248) 960-7700
www.trijicon.com